Bison Game Notes

TODAY’S GAME:

Tonight, the Buffalo Bisons square off against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs in the first two games of a four-game series at Coca-Cola Park (Game 1: 6:05 p.m.). The teams are scheduled for two tonight because Monday’s series opener was postponed due to rain. The Bisons are coming off a split of a four-game series against Louisville back in Buffalo. On Friday, the Herd will return home for an eight-game homestand against Norfolk and Gwinnett.

OH NELLY:

In his first three starts with the Bisons, RHP Nelson Figueroa has combined to face just five more than the minimum over 16.0 innings of work. The veteran has allowed just eight hits and three walks for a 0.69 WHIP. More than half of his baserunners have been quickly erased thanks to six doubleplays. On Wednesday in Rochester, Figueroa allowed just four hits in seven innings in a 1-0 loss to the Red Wings.

REDDING REHAB:

RHP Tim Redding is scheduled to begin his Major League rehab assignment with the start in Game 2 tonight. The Mets placed Redding on the DL on April 6 (retro to 3/27) with a right rotator cuff strain. Last season, Redding was 10-11 with a 4.95ERA in 33 starts with Washington.

STARTIN’ STRONG:

The last trip through the rotation has been a good one for the Herd. Starting with RHP Nelson Figueroa’s start in Rochester on Wednesday, Bisons starters are 2-2 with a 1.45ERA in five starts. The group has combined to strike out 21 and walked just two in 31.0 innings of work. For the year, the Bisons team ERA is now 3.97.

F-MART:

OF Francisco Martinez hit .571 (8-14) with two doubles, two homeruns and five RBI in the four-game series against the Bats. He was a triple away from the cycle Sunday as he drove in three of Buffalo’s four runs. He is now tied with former Bison Todd Linden with 10 doubles for the International League lead. His 14 extra-base hits are one off the IL lead. INSTANT IMPACT: Activated Sunday, INF Ramon Martinez quickly made his presence felt at the top of the team’s order. The infielder hit and scored in each of his first two at-bats. Martinez finished the game 2-3 with a double, a walk and two runs scored. A veteran of 786 major league games, Martinez missed the first 21 games of the season with a sports hernia injury.