Buffalo Pre-Game Notes

Buffalo Bisons (56-72, 5th(-16.0), North) vs. Columbus Clippers (80-50, 1st(+13.0), West)

Monday, August 22, 2011 (7:05 p.m.) - Huntington Park

RHP Miguel Batista (2-0, 3.92) VS. RHP Jeanmar Gomez (10-6, 2.39)

Radio: WWKB AM 1520, bisons.com

TODAY’S GAME: Tonight, the Buffalo Bisons face the Columbus Clippers in the third game of a four-game set at Huntington Park (7:05 p.m.). The Herd has won the first two games of the series by a combined score of 25-5. The Bisons now have won five of its last six games and eight of their last 11 games.

VS. THE CLIPPERS: The road team has won all six games in the season series between Buffalo and Columbus. The Bisons have won the last two nights and the Clippers swept a four-game set at Coca-Cola Field, June 11-14. The Bisons are 7-3 in their first 10 games in Huntington Park.

MIGHTY MIGUEL: RHP MIGUEL BATISTA is 2-0 in seven starts with the Bisons this season. The veteran has allowed three earned runs or less in each of his last five outings. Batista is coming off his best start with the Bisons as he held Toledo to two runs (one earned) on four hits over eight innings on August 17. For the season, right-handed hitters have averaged just .150 (12-80) off Batista with no home runs and a .213 slugging pct.

HITTIN’ HERD: With 10 runs last night and 15 on Saturday, the Bisons have scored in double-digits in back-to-back games. The last time the Herd accomplished the feat was June 4-5, 2010 in Norfolk when the team posted victories of 11-6 and 12-9. The last time the Bisons scored 25+ runs in back-to-back games was July 17-18, 2008 against Richmond (wins of 10-2, 16-3).

MR. VP: With 90RBI, INF VALENTINO PASCUCCI now leads all International League hitters by five RBI. He’s the first Bisons player to reach the 90RBI-plateau since DH Ernie Young drove in 100 during the 2004 season. Pascucci is also the first Bison to slug 20+ home runs since OF Jason Dubois hit 22 during the 2006 campaign.

HIT KING: OF JESUS FELICIANO homered yesterday for his 97th hit of the season. The three-year Bisons’ outfielder is now has 365 hits with the team since 2009, only 13 shy of Bill Selby’s modern era record total of 378. With two more hits, Feliciano will tie INF Brandon Phillips (267) for the fourth most in the team’s modern era. Feliciano led the International League with 154 hits in 2009 and collected 114 more last season in 89 games.

METS UPDATE: The Mets (60-66) lost to the Brewers, 6-2, on Sunday as the Brewers completed a three-game sweep of New York. Former Bisons OF LUCAS DUDA hit a two-run home run to account for both runs. RHP R.A. DICKEY allowed just two runs in seven innings but left with a no-decision. The Mets are in Philly tonight at 7:05 p.m.