Bisons Notes 4/16/10 - Bisons vs. Pawtucket (6:05 p.m.)

From Press Release:

Buffalo Bisons (5-3, 2nd(-1.0), North) vs. Pawtucket Red Sox (3-5, T4th(-3.0), North)

Friday, April 16, 2010 (6:05 p.m.) - Coca-Cola Field

RHP Dillon Gee (1-0, 0.00) vs. LHP Fabio Castro (0-0, 2.25)

Radio: WWKB AM 1520, http://www.bisons.com/


TODAY’S GAME: Tonight, the Bisons host the Pawtucket Red Sox for the third game of a three-game series at Coca-Cola Field (6:05 p.m.). The Herd is looking for the sweep after victories of 8-2 and 3-2 to begin the set. After today’s game, the Bisons continue their seven-game homestand with a four-game series with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees.

vs. PAWSOX: The Bisons are 103-91 (.531) against the Red Sox since joining the International League in 1998. The Herd has won seven of the last 10 matchups with the PawSox and 38 of the last 65 (.585) since the 2006 season.

BROOM WORK?: Tonight, the Bisons are looking for their first three-game sweep in almost two years. The last time the Herd took all three games against an opponent was June 27-29, 2008 against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre at Coca-Cola Field. Their last series sweep of any kind was a two-game victory over Pawtucket on July 9 and 10 of last season.

GOSH GOLLY GEE: RHP DILLON GEE gets the start tonight after a fantastic 2010 debut. Gee allowed just two hits and struck out four in six shutout innings in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Sunday. Gee missed the final 98 games of the 2009 season with a right shoulder strain. He was 1-3 with a 4.10ERA in the nine starts he made with the Bisons before the injury.

HOMERING HESSMAN: INF MIKE HESSMAN hit his fourth home run in six games last night, giving him 315 blasts for his minor league career. The slugger continues to widen his lead over the INF SCOTT McCLAIN (292), who is on the disabled list in the Cubs’ chain. Hessman’s four blasts are tied for the International League lead while his .846 slugging percentage ranks behind only Columbus’ C CARLOS SANTANA.

WE LIKE IKE: Another game, another two stops on base for INF IKE DAVIS. The slugger has reached base twice in every game but one this season (4/13 at Syracuse). Davis is currently riding a team-high five-game hit streak, over which he has averaged .313 (5-16). The 23-year old has also drawn a walk in six of the last seven games. Davis leads the International League with eight walks, is tied for the IL lead with eight runs scored and is 5th with a .500 on-base pct.

METS UPDATE: The Mets (3-6) shut out the Rockies in Colorado yesterday afternoon, 5-0. RHP MIKE PELFREY delivered seven solid innings for his second straight win to start the season. INF JOSE REYES, INF LUIS CASTILLO and OF JEFF FRANCOEUR all had two hits in the win. Francoeur now ranks 3rd in the National League with a .438 batting average and 5th with a .513 on-base percentage.