Bisons Notes 4/12/10 - Buffalo at Syracuse (6:00 p.m.)

LHP Bobby Livingston (NR) vs. RHP Luis Atilano (NR)

TODAY’S GAME: Tonight, the Bisons take on the Syracuse Chiefs in the first game of a two-game series at Alliance Bank Stadium (6:00 p.m.). The Herd is coming off a 3-1 series win over the Yankees in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to begin the 2010 season. After tomorrow’s game, the Bisons return to Western New York for Wednesday’s Home Opener against the Pawtucket Red Sox.

VS. THE CHIEFS: The Bisons and Chiefs do battle tonight in the first Thruway Series game of the season. While Rochester won the Thruway Cup last year, Syracuse had a big advantage over the Herd. Buffalo was just 4-12 against the Chiefs in 2009 as Syracuse won the first eight matchups. The teams split the final eight games of last season.

STRONG ARMS: The Bisons picked up a series win in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre due in large part to their pitching. Buffalo posted the best ERA in the International League over the opening day weekend with a 1.70 mark. Bisons’ pitchers allowed just 33 hits and one home run in 37.0 innings pitched to the Yankees. The bullpen was 2-0 with a 1.59ERA and three saves in the series.

WE LIKE IKE: INF IKE DAVIS was all over the base paths against the Yankees. The 23-year old rookie reached base at least twice in all four games of the series. He went 3-4 with two doubles on Thursday before homering and drawing two walks in Friday’s contest. On Saturday, Davis drew two more free passes. He then walked and doubled in Sunday’s victory. Davis is hitting .385 (5-13) with five walks and a .556 on-base percentage so far this season.

HOMERING HESSMAN: INF MIKE HESSMAN homered in back-to-back games over the weekend. The 32-year old has widened his lead as the minor leagues’ active home run leader. Hessman now has 313 home runs in his minor league career, 21 ahead of INF SCOTT McCLAIN, who is currently on the disabled list in the Chicago Cubs minor league system.

JAMMIN’: Bisons relievers have done a great job putting out fires this year. The bullpen stranded all seven inherited runners in the series victory over the Yanks. RHP BOBBY PARNELL stranded two yesterday in the eighth inning before earning his first save of the season.

METS UPDATE: The New York Mets (2-4) lost to the Nationals yesterday, 5-2, at Citi Field. Washington OF JOSH WILLINGHAM hit a grand slam in the first inning off of LHP JOHAN SANTANA to give the ‘Nats the early lead. INF MIKE JACOBS hit a two-run home run to account for both Mets’ runs. New York has an off day today to leave for their first roadtrip of the season in Colorado and St. Louis.