Buffalo Pre-Game Notes

Buffalo Bisons (58-62, T5th(-8.5), North) vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (66-53, 1st(+0.5), North)
Saturday, August 11, 2012 (7:05 p.m.) - Coca-Cola Field
RHP Zack Wheeler (0-0, 3.86) vs. LHP Justin Thomas (1-1, 3.53)
Radio: WWKB AM 1520, bisons.com

TODAY’S GAME: Tonight, the Bisons host the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees in the second game of a two-game series at Coca-Cola Field (7:05 p.m.). The Herd goes for the split after the Yankees collected the 10-4 victory on Friday night. The Bisons’ current eight-game homestand continues tomorrow with the first game of a two-game set with the Pawtucket Red Sox.

vs. YANKEES: The Bisons are an even 5-5 against the Yankees this season. The final six games of the matchup will be played at Coca-Cola Field, including a pair of contests (August 20-21) where Scranton/Wilkes-Barre will be the home team. The Bisons are in search of their first season series victory over Scranton/Wilkes-Barre since winning nine of 16 games in 2005.

HOME DEBUT: RHPZACK WHEELER will make his Coca-Cola Field debut tonight. The 22-year old pitched 4.2 innings of two-run baseball on Monday in Syracuse in his first Triple-A start. Wheeler struck out seven and allowed just three hits. The Mets’ #1 prospect by Baseball America tossed an Eastern League-best 117 strikeouts for Binghamton before his promotion to Buffalo.

SILKY: INFJOSH SATIN homered on Friday to extend his hit streak to nine games. Since July 31, the slugger has averaged .485 (16-33) with six doubles, three home runs, 11RBI and a .939 slugging percentage. Satin now boasts a .302 average on the season, tied for the 5th best in the International League. He also continues to lead the IL with his .406 on-base percentage.

LEWIS: OFFRED LEWIS is 3rd in the International League with 66 runs scored and tied for 4th with 21 stolen bases. His stolen base total is the most for a Bisons player since OF Ben Francisco stole 22 during the 2007 campaign. The 25-steal plateau has only been reached twice in the past 12 seasons with Francisco stealing 25 in 2006 and INF Brent Abernathy stealing 27 in 2004.

BISONS BITS: OFMATT DEN DEKKER has scored a run in five consecutive games...LHP C.J. NITKOWSKI has not allowed an earned run in his first three outings with the Bisons (3.2IP)...INFZACH LUTZ has hit .309 in 52 games this season and now has a .301 (125-415) average in 118 games in his Bisons career with 28 doubles, a triple, 20 home runs and 68RBI.

METS UPDATE: The Mets (54-59) were shutout by the rival Braves on Friday night, 4-0. Former Bisons RHPMATT HARVEY allowed just two runs in six innings but fell to 1-3 on the season. New York was held to just three hits in the loss. LHPJOHAN SANTANA returns to the team today to face the Braves at 7:10 p.m. tonight.