Buffalo Pre-Game Notes

Buffalo Bisons (38-51, 5th(-13.0), North) vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (46-40, T2nd(-3.5), North)Friday, July 8, 2011 (7:05 p.m.) - PNC FieldRHP Jack Egbert (0-2, 6.00) vs. RHP D.J. Mitchell (5-7, 3.45)Radio: WWKB AM 1520, bisons.com TODAY’S GAME: Tonight, the Buffalo Bisons take on the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees in the final game of a three-game series at PNC Field (7:05 p.m.). The teams have split the first two games of the set, giving the Herd a chance to win its first road series of the season tonight. Buffalo is 2-2 on its current seven-game roadtrip that will end with a pair of games in Pawtucket this weekend. VS. THE YANKS: The Bisons are 4-5 against the Yankees this season. After losing a three-game set at PNC, April 13-15, the Herd is looking to pick up a series win with a victory tonight. Buffalo earned a series split and a series win in their two visits to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last year with a 5-3 record. STARTING OFF: RHP JACK EGBERT will make his fourth start as a Bison today. The righty allowed two runs on seven hits in 2.2 innings in his last outing, July 3 against Syracuse. Egbert joined the Bisons late in June after spending 191 games on the team’s disabled list. The veteran needed reconstructive surgery on his arm after injuring himself in a 2010 spring exhibition game. CATCHING ON: C RAUL CHAVEZ brings a six-game hit streak into tonight’s game. The veteran has averaged .400 (8-20) with two doubles, three RBI and two runs scored since June 29. Behind the dish, Chavez remains the top catcher in the IL by throwing out 48.9% of would-be base stealers (23 of 47). The next closest is Syracuse’s Jesus Flores at 40.5%. F-MART: OF FERNANDO MARTINEZ has hit three home runs in four games against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season. In 18 career games against Yankees pitching, Martinez has hit .304 (24-79) with seven doubles, five home runs, 15RBI and a .582 slugging percentage. BISONS BITS: INF LUIS HERNANDEZ has hit .385 (5-13) with a home run and seven RBI in the four games of this current roadtrip...Bisons’ starting pitchers have posted a 3.03ERA and given up only one home run in seven starts in July (38.2IP). The rotation had a 5.15ERA and allowed 25 home runs in 29 June games...RHP CHRIS SCHWINDEN will represent the Bisons in next week’s Triple-A All-Star Game in Salt Lake City. METS UPDATE: The Mets (45-43) failed to close out a sweep of the Dodgers with a 6-0 loss in L.A. last night. New York had just six singles, including two each from former Bisons INF DANIEL MURPHY and OF ANGEL PAGAN. The Mets head to San Francisco tonight for a 10:15 p.m. first pitch against the defending champs.