Buffalo Pre-Game Notes

Buffalo Bisons (42-57, 5th(-15.0), North) vs. Pawtucket Red Sox (55-44, 2nd(-2.0), North)Friday, July 22, 2011 (7:35 p.m.) - Coca-Cola FieldRHP Chris Schwinden (6-4, 3.31) vs. RHP Matt Fox (5-4, 5.17)Radio: WWKB AM 1520, WGR Sportsradio 550AM, bisons.com TODAY’S GAME: Tonight, the Buffalo Bisons start an eight-game homestand by hosting the Pawtucket Red Sox (7:35 p.m.). The Herd escaped a series sweep by Syracuse last night with a 5-2 win. Buffalo is now 4-4 since returning from the All-Star break. The Bisons will face Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday for the second half of the homestand.   VS. THE RED SOX: The Bisons are 2-6 against the Red Sox this season. Pawtucket has defeated the Herd the last four meetings, all of which were at McCoy Stadium. The clubs split a four-game series at Coca-Cola Field, April 9-12. RHP  CHRIS SCHWINDEN made his Bisons debut against the PawSox on April 16 and struck out nine batters in 5.1 innings of a no-decision. SCHWING AND MISS: RHP CHRIS SCHWINDEN will make his team-high 18th start of the season tonight. The Triple-A All-Star leads the Bisons with 6 wins, a 3.31ERA and 88 strikeouts. Schwinden lost his last appearance on July 16 in Rochester by allowing four runs in a season-low 4.1 innings of work. It was the first start Schwinden had lost since May 31 (7 starts). SMOOTH AS: INF JOSH SATIN joins the Bisons today from Double-A Binghamton. The 26-year old will make his Triple-A debut after leading the Eastern League with 35 doubles this year. Satin hit .325 (110-338) with 11 home runs and 60RBI in 94 games with Binghamton. To make roster room, INF JON MALO was transferred to the B-Mets. LUIS, LUIS: INF LUIS FIGUEROA collected two hits yesterday to bump his average up to .308. The veteran is just four plate appearances shy of having his average qualify under IL minimums. Thursday’s performance was his 21st multi-hit game of the season, most on the Bisons active roster. BISONS BITS: RHP DALE THAYER recorded his 10th save of the season last night. The last Bisons’ reliever to have 10+ saves was RHP Elmer Dessens (11) in 2009...C RAUL CHAVEZ has hit in 10 straight games with a .371 (13-35) average since June 29...INF VALENTINO PASCUCCI has 65RBI on the season, only one less than IL-leading Stefan Gartrell of Gwinnett. - from team press release