Buffalo Bisons 1:05pm Pre-Game Notes

Buffalo Bisons (4-5, T3rd(-3.0), North) vs. Pawtucket Red Sox (5-4, T2nd(-2.0),North)
Saturday, April 14, 2012 (1:05 p.m.) - Coca-Cola Field
LHP Garrett Olson (0-0, 1.50) vs. RHP Alex Wilson (0-0, 1.80)
Radio: WWKB AM 1520, bisons.com

TODAY’S GAME: This afternoon, the Buffalo Bisons host the Pawtucket Red Sox in the first game of a two-game weekend series at Coca-Cola Field (1:05 p.m.). The Herd is coming off a 2-1 series loss to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees. Today’s game is part of a nine-game homestand as the Bisons will also host Lehigh Valley, April 15-19.

vs. PAWSOX: The Bisons and Red Sox split a two-game series back at McCoy Stadium, April 5-6. Pawtucket won on Opening Day, 4-2, before the Herd rebounded to even the series with a 2-1 victory the next night. Last season, Buffalo won just four of 15 games against the PawSox.

OLSON: LHPGARRETT OLSON makes his Coca-Cola Field debut this afternoon. The southpaw started on Monday in Rochester and allowed just one run in five innings of work. Olson left with a lead but was denied his first Bisons win by a late Red Wings’ rally. Olson was 4-3 with a 3.05ERA in 24 games with Indianapolis last season.

STREAKIN: INFZACH LUTZ extended his hit streak to eight games with a double in four trips yesterday. Since the second game of the season, Lutz has hit .357 (10-28) with two doubles, two home runs and six RBI. The infielder has been with the Herd for parts of the last two seasons and now carries a .324 average (81-250) in 75 career Triple-A games (18 doubles, 14 home runs).

SCALES: INFBOBBY SCALES has reached base at least twice in all six games he’s started for the Bisons. Along with seven hits, the veteran has drawn six walks without striking out in 27 plate appearances. Scales’ .368 average is the 5th highest in the International League while his .520 on-base percentage leads all IL hitters.

BISONS BITS: The Bisons have built at least a 2-0 lead in each of their last five games. However, Buffalo is just 1-4 over that stretch...The Yankees run in the ninth inning yesterday was the first run the Bisons have allowed after the seventh inning this year...At 4-5, the Herd is under .500 for the first time since being 0-1 after a season opening loss to the Red Sox, 4-2, on April 5.

METS UPDATE: The Mets (5-2) opened up a three-game series in Philadelphia with a 5-2 victory over the Phils. RHPR.A. DICKEY improved to 2-0 by allowing just one run in seven innings of work. The knuckleballer struck out seven. The Mets take on the Phillies again this afternoon at 4:05 p.m.