8/13/11

Buffalo Pre-Game Notes

Buffalo Bisons (50-69, 5th(-18.0), North) vs. Durham Bulls (67-51, 1st(+2.0), South)Saturday, August 13, 2011 (7:05 p.m.) - Coca-Cola Field

RHP Chris Schwinden (7-6, 3.62) vs. LHP Alex Torres (8-6, 3.16)

Radio: WWKB AM 1520, bisons.com

TODAY’S GAME: Tonight, the Bisons host the Durham Bulls for the second game of a four-game set at Coca-Cola Field (7:05 p.m.). The Herd is now 3-1 on its 10-game homestand that started with a two-game split with the Chiefs. Following their series with the Bulls, Buffalo will face the Toledo Mud Hens for a four-game set that starts on Tuesday.

VS. THE BULLS: The Bisons are 2-3 against Durham this year. In the five games played, the Bulls have the slim 18-17 lead in runs scored. With last night’s win, Buffalo now has a 16-13 record against IL South opponents. The Herd has won seven of its last nine games against the Bulls at Coca-Cola Field.  

SCHWING AND MISS: RHP CHRIS SCHWINDEN will make his team-high 22nd start of the season for the Herd. The righty leads the Bisons with 109 strikeouts, 119.1 innings pitched and a 3.62ERA. His strikeout total is the tied for the 8th most in the International League. It is also tied for the 7th most for a Bisons pitcher in one season in the modern era.

COMEBACK KIDS: The Bisons have posted back-to-back comeback wins. On Thursday, INF ZACH LUTZ collected the team’s fifth walk-off win with a ninth-inning double. Last night, the Herd trailed 0-2 at the top of the seventh inning against the Bulls before scoring the game’s final three runs. The Bisons now have 22 comeback wins this season.

CLOUD NINE: LHP PAT MISCH became the fourth Bisons pitcher to strike out nine batters in a start this season. Tonight’s starter, RHP CHRIS SCHWINDEN was the first to accomplish the feat, April 16 against Pawtucket. RHP D.J. CARRASCO and RHP MIGUEL BATISTA have also fanned nine batters in a start this year.

BISONS BITS: INF JORDANY VALDESPIN has collected hits in each of his first three games at Triple-A. The 23-year old has averaged .364 (4-11) with one RBI since his promotion...RHP DALE THAYER recorded his 16th save of the season last night and now ranks 5th in the International League...The last time the Bisons won back-to-back games by one run was July 21-22, 2010 with victories of 4-3 and 2-1 over the Gwinnett Braves.

METS UPDATE: The Mets (58-60) lost to the Diamondbacks by a 4-3 score. OF JASON BAY went 3-4 with a double and an RBI last night. Former Bisons RHP RYOTA IGARASHI worked 2.0 innings of relief and allowed just one hit. The Mets will face the Diamondbacks for the second game of a three-game set at Chase Field (8:10 p.m.).

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