Buffalo Pre-Game Notes

Buffalo Bisons (3-3, T3rd(-1.0), North) vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (1-4, 6th(-2.5), North)
Wednesday, April 11, 2012 (2:05 p.m.) - Coca-Cola Field
RHP Jeurys Familia (0-0, 1.93) vs. RHP Dellin Betances (0-0, 3.60)
Radio: WWKB AM 1520, bisons.com

TODAY’S GAME: This afternoon, the Buffalo Bisons host the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees in the 2012 Home Opener at Coca-Cola Field (2:05 p.m.). Today’s game is the start of a three-game series against the Yanks and a nine-game homestand as Pawtucket and Lehigh Valley will also visit Buffalo. The Bisons started the 2012 season with a six-game roadtrip were they were 3-3.

HOME OPENERS: The Bisons are 14-10 in their 24 Home Openers since Coca-Cola Field opened in 1988. However, the Herd is just 4-6 in their last 10 Openers. The Bisons have never hosted Scranton/Wilkes-Barre for their Home Opener. The only other time the Bisons opened their home schedule on April 11 was in 2008, a 4-1 loss to the Toledo Mud Hens.

vs. YANKS: Since rejoining the International League in 2012, the Bisons are just one game under the .500 mark against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (111-112). However, the Yanks have had the upper hand in the series in recent years. The Bisons were just 6-10 against the Yankees last season and have not won a season series against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre since going 9-7 in 2005.

WE ARE FAMILIA: RHPJEURYS FAMILIA gets the ball for the Bisons 2012 Home Opener. The 22-year old is the Mets #4 prospect by Baseball America. Familia made his Bisons and Triple-A debut on Friday in Pawtucket and allowed just one run in 4.2 innings of work. Familia was the MVP of the Binghamton Mets (AA) last season with 96 strikeouts in 87.2 innings of work.

PATCHES: Bisons fans will notice a pair of patches on the Bisons 2012 uniforms. On the side of player’s cap is a logo for the 2012 Triple-A All-Star Game, which will be played at Coca-Cola Field on July 11. The Bisons “25th Season” logo has been placed on the uniform’s sleeve to represent the team’s 25th season at Coca-Cola Field.

BISONS BITS: INFZACH LUTZ and OF VINNY ROTTINO both bring five-game hit streaks into today’s game. Lutz has hit .353 (6-17) during the stretch while Rottino has averaged .412 (7-17)...INFVALENTINO PASCUCCI has three homers in five games this year. With 41 career Bisons home runs, the slugger is tied for 11th most in the modern era (with Dave Clark).

METS UPDATE: The Mets (4-1) suffered their first loss of the season with a 6-2 setback to the Nationals last night. INFRONNY CEDENO had three hits in the defeat. RHP DILLON GEE suffered the loss after allowing four runs (three earned) in 5.1 innings of work. The Mets host the Nationals for the series final at 1:10 p.m.