Bisons Notes 5/3/10 - Louisville at Buffalo (7:05 p.m.)

From Press Release:

Buffalo Bisons (15-10, T2nd(-0.5), North) vs. Louisville Bats (8-17, 4th(-7.5), West)

Tuesday, May 4, 2010 (7:05 p.m.) - Coca-Cola Field

RHP R.A. Dickey (3-1, 2.33) vs. RHP Justin Lehr (0-3, 6.64)

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

TODAY’S GAME: Tonight, the Bisons host the Louisville Bats in the final game of a four-game series from Coca-Cola Field (7:05 p.m.). The Herd is looking for the series win as the lead the set, 2-1. Today’s game will also close out the Bisons’ eight-game homestand. Buffalo is 5-2 since April 27. Following a league-wide off day on Wednesday, the Bisons will leave for an eight-game roadtrip to Indianapolis and Louisville.

vs. THE BATS: This is the final game for the Bats at Coca-Cola Field this season. The Bisons are in Louisville from May 10-13 to close out the season-series. Buffalo is 2-1 against the Bats this year and now holds a 53-46 edge (.535) since the team’s return to the International League in 1998.

R.A. IS A-OKAY: RHP R.A. DICKEY is back on the mound for the first time since retiring 27 consecutive batters in Thursday’s 4-0 win over Durham. The knuckleballer has thrown more innings (38.2) than any other pitcher in the International League and ranks 5th in the circuit with a 2.33ERA. Dickey has worked at least eight innings in each of his last four starts.

BIG HITTER: OF CHRIS CARTER followed up his walk-off winner on Sunday with three more hits in last night’s contest. Carter has hit in five straight with a .550 (11-20) average with a double, two home runs, seven RBI and five runs scored. Carter has eight multi-hit performances in his last 12 games and is now sixth in the International League with a .348 batting average.

HIT STREAK: INF MIKE HESSMAN enters tonight’s game with a seven-game hit streak. The slugger has averaged .345 (10-29) with two doubles, four home runs, 14RBI and seven runs scored. His streak is the longest active streak for a Bisons player in 2010. INF MIKE CERVENAK hit in 11 straight games from April 15-26.

HESS HONORED: The International League named INF MIKE HESSMAN its Batter of the Week for April 26 - May 2. In seven games, Hessman hit .321 (9-28) with four home runs, 14RBI and a .786 slugging percentage. On the season, Hessman ranks 1st in the IL in RBI (28) and total bases (58) and 2nd in home runs (8), extra-base hits (15), and slugging percentage (.637).

METS UPDATE: The Mets (14-12) lost to the Reds in Cincinnati last night, 3-2, in 11 innings. Reds’ LANCE NIX hit a solo home run off former Bisons’ RHP MANNY ACOSTA for the game-winning hit. LHP OLIVER PEREZ allowed just two runs in six innings of work but did not earn a decision. New York takes on Cincinnati again tonight at 7:10 p.m.