Bisons Game Notes

TODAY’S GAME: Today, the Buffalo Bisons host the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees in the final game of a four-game series from Coca-Cola Field (1:05 p.m.). The Herd is looking to avoid the sweep as the Yanks have won three straight close affairs, 6-5, 5-3 and 4-3. The Bisons are also 1-6 on their season-opening homestand that ends this afternoon. Tomorrow, the Herd will open up a six-game roadtrip with the first of a four-game series in Syracuse.

OH NELLY: RHP Nelson Figueroa was very impressive in his Bisons debut on Saturday against Pawtucket. The veteran allowed just two singles and two walks over seven shutout innings. He erased all four of those base runners with four double plays and also struck out four. He ended up with a no-decision as the Herd lost, 1-0. The seven innings was the longest outing for a Bisons starter this season. An “innings eater,” Figueroa averaged 6.1 innings a start with New Orleans (AAA) last season.

F-MART: OF Fernando Martinez ripped a pair of singles yesterday in five trips to the plate. The knocks were his first two singles of the year as his previous six hits all went for extra-bases. Martinez still leads the International League with those six extra-base hits (4 doubles, 1 triple, 1 homerun). Last year at Binghamton (AA), Martinez had 19 doubles, 4 triples and 8 home runs in 86 games.

AT THE TOP: OF Jesus Feliciano is 5-11 in his two games at the top of the Bisons batting order (.455 average). He currently leads the team with a .320 average and is tied with OF Fernando Martinez with eight hits. Last year, Feliciano hit .308 in 139 games with New Orleans (AAA). He led the Zephyrs in average and had 33 more hits (157) than anyone else on the team.

PEN WORK: RHP Eddie Kunz allowed just one hit while striking out five in three impressive innings of relief work Monday. Kunz has delivered three scoreless outings (6.1IP) for the Herd so far this year and earned the club’s lone win in Sunday’s 15-inning marathon. With his power right arm, Kunz has allowed just one hit to a right-handed batter in 15 at-bats this year.