Buffalo Pre-Game Notes

Buffalo Bisons (38-51, 5th(-13.5), North) vs. Pawtucket Red Sox (48-41, 2nd(-3.5), North)Saturday, July 9, 2011 (6:05 p.m.) - McCoy StadiumLHP Pat Misch (3-4, 5.00) vs. TBARadio: WWKB AM 1520, bisons.com TODAY’S GAME: Tonight, the Buffalo Bisons take on the Pawtucket Red Sox in the first game of a two-game series at McCoy Stadium (6:05 p.m.). The Bisons are 2-2 so far as they come to their third stop on this roadtrip. The Herd split a pair of series in Syracuse and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The three-day All-Star break will begin Monday after Sunday’s series finale against Pawtucket. VS. THE RED SOX: The Bisons are 2-4 against the Red Sox this season. The clubs split a four-game series in Buffalo, April 9-12, before the PawSox swept a two-game set at McCoy Stadium, April 16-17. It was exactly two years ago that Buffalo last won a series in Rhode Island. The Bisons collected victories of 3-1 and 1-0 on July 9-10, 2009 at McCoy Stadium. THE DISCH: LHP PAT MISCH will head to the mound for the 12th time this season. The southpaw allowed just one earned run in six innings in his last outing, July 4 in Syracuse. Misch has been sharp in his last six starts, with a 3-1 record and a 3.49ERA since June 9. In his last 38.2 innings of work, the veteran has posted 25 strikeouts and only 10 walks. 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%. ON TRACK: INF ZACH LUTZ has hit in three of four games since returning from the disabled list on July 4 with a .313 (5-16) average and a home run. Lutz has enjoyed Pawtucket pitching this year with five doubles, a home run and a .375 (6-16) average in five games. That equates to a .875 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 (46-43) improved to 4-1 on their West Coast trip with a 5-2 win over the Giants. Former Bisons OF ANGEL PAGAN homered and drove in a pair and OF SCOTT HAIRSTON also went deep. The Mets take on the Giants again this afternoon at 4:10 p.m.