Bisons Notes 4/14/10 - HOME OPENER vs. Pawtucket (3:05 p.m.)

From Press Release:

Buffalo Bisons (3-3, T2nd(-2.0), North) vs. Pawtucket Red Sox (3-3, T2nd(-2.0), North)

Wednesday, April 14, 2010 (3:05 p.m.) - Coca-Cola Field

RHP R.A. Dickey (0-0, 7.71) vs. RHP Adam Mills (0-0, 0.00)

TV: Time Warner Cable SportsNet 13 Radio: WWKB AM 1520, http://www.bisons.com/


TODAY’S GAME: This afternoon, the Bisons host the Pawtucket Red Sox for the 2010 Home Opener at Coca-Cola Field (3:05 p.m.). Today’s game will be the start of a three-game series with Pawtucket and a seven-game homestand. The Herd is coming off a 3-3 roadtrip that featured a four-game series win in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre against the Yankees.

HOME OPENERS: The Bisons are 13-9 in Home Openers since Coca-Cola Field debuted in 1988. The Herd has faced Pawtucket for their Home Opener on three occasions, beating the PawSox 5-2 on April 5, 2001 and 10-8 on April 3, 2003. Pawtucket earned the 6-4 win last year in the Home Opener on April 9. Buffalo is 3-0 on Home Openers played on April 14, including the first game ever played at Coca-Cola Field, April 14, 1988 against Denver (1-0 win).

R.A. IS A-OKAY: RHP R.A. DICKEY gets the start today and will look to bounce back from a tough start in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday. Dickey allowed six runs (four earned) in 4.2 innings of work in a no-decision. The Bisons came back and won the games, 7-6, over the Yankees. A free agent signee, Dickey was 1-1 with a 4.62ERA in 35 games with Minnesota last season.

HOMERING HESSMAN: INF MIKE HESSMAN hit his third homer of the season last night, giving him three blasts in his last four games. Hessman now has 314 home runs in his minor league career, most among active players. Hessman is 22 ahead of INF SCOTT McCLAIN, who is on the DL in the Chicago Cubs’ chain. Third on the list is Lehigh Valley’s INF ANDY TRACY (258).

BULLY FOR THE PEN: The Bisons’ bullpen continues to be a strength for the team. LHP ADAM PETTYJOHN and RHP BOBBY PARNELL chipped in three shutout innings last night. Herd relievers have posted a 1.52ERA with 21 strikeouts to only 19 hits allowed in 23.2 innings this season.

ROSTER MOVE: RHP JOSE DE LA TORRE has been promoted to the Bisons from the Binghamton Mets (AA). De La Torre posted a 1.93ERA in two relief appearances with the B-Mets this season, including a six-strikeout performance on Monday against Erie. The 24-year old was a combined 6-5 with a 2.73ERA and five saves between Binghamton and St Lucie (A) last season.