Herd Game Notes

TODAY’S GAME:

Tonight, the Buffalo Bisons host the Norfolk Tides for the first game of a four-game series at Coca-Cola Park (7:05 p.m.). The Herd is coming off a 1-2 roadtrip to Lehigh Valley. The Bisons are home for eight straight, with the Gwinnett Braves making their first ever trip to Buffalo from May 12-15.

HOME SWEET HOME:

Tonight’s game starts an incredible stretch of home games for the Bisons. Buffalo will be home for 16 of the next 20 games. Extend the stretch into June and the Bisons will play at Coca-Cola Field for 26 of the next 40 games. Only six of the team’s next 30 home games are against divisional opponents (May 25-28 vs. Lehigh Valley, July 17-18 vs. Syracuse)

GOOD KNIGHT, BATTERS:

RHP Brandon Knight has struck out 29 batters in only 25.0 innings of work this year. He is coming off his best outing as a Bison with nine strikeouts in seven shutout innings against Louisville on Sunday. Knight has fanned at least five batters in each of his four starts. His 29 punchouts are tied for 8th best in the International League.

BULLY FOR THE PEN:

The combination of RHP Eddie Kunz, LHP Jon Switzer and RHP Elmer Dessens totally shutdown the IronPigs yesterday. The three allowed just one hit while striking out four in five scoreless innings. Kunz collected the win for his efforts while Dessens earned the Bisons first save of the 2009 season.

ON THE CHARTS:

OF Fernando Martinez is currently tied with former Bisons MVP Todd Linden for the most doubles (11) and extra-base hits (16) in the International League. Martinez is also tied for fourth with his two triples. RHP Nelson Figueroa leads the entire International League with his 0.76 WHIP average (Walks and Hits/Innings Pitched). The Bisons 3.91ERA as a team is ranked 6th in the IL.

SMOOTH CRIMINALS:

Both OF Jesus Feliciano and INF Argenis Reyes stole their fifth base of the season yesterday. The duo is tied for the team lead. As a team, the Bisons have been safe in their last 15 steal attempts dating back to April 16. On the year, the Bisons have stolen 18 bases in 20 attempts (90%).