Buffalo Pre-Game Notes

Buffalo Bisons (26-35, T4th(-12.0), North) vs. Indianapolis Indians (30-31, 3rd(-9.0), West)Thursday, June 9, 2011 (10:35 a.m.) - Coca-Cola Field



LHP Pat Misch (0-3, 6.98) vs. RHP Sean Gallagher (1-7, 6.49)


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



TODAY’S GAME: This morning, the Bisons take on the Indianapolis Indians in the third game of a four-game series from Coca-Cola Field (10:35 a.m.). Today’s morning start is for the club’s annual School Kids Day. The Herd has begun this eight-game homestand with a pair of losses to the Indians. After Friday’s game, the Bisons will host the Columbus Clippers for four games.



VS. THE INDIANS: The Bisons are 1-5 against the Indians this season. Indianapolis began the season series by taking three of four at Victory Field, May 17-20. With five losses already, the Herd has officially lost the season series to the Indians. It’s Buffalo’s first losing matchup of the season, having split the first three completed season series against Louisville, Charlotte and Gwinnett.



DISH ON MISCH: LHP PAT MISCH is still in search of his first victory with the Bisons this season. The southpaw is 0-3 in five starts with the club in 2011. Last year, Misch had just four defeats as part of an 11-4 season that earned him Bisons Most Valuable Pitcher honors. The veteran yielded six runs in six innings in a loss at Gwinnett in his last outing on June 4.



ZIPPIDY DUDA: Since returning from the disabled list on May 28, OF LUCAS DUDA has more home runs (6) and a higher slugging percentage (.930) than any batter in the IL over that period. In the last 13 games, Duda has averaged .419 (18-43) with 10 extra-base hits and 11 runs scored. He brings a seven-game hit streak into today’s action.



CLASS IN SESSION: Today’s game is the Bisons annual School Kids Day with about 10,000 school kids from across Western New York in attendance. The Herd has actually already played four morning starts on the road this season. Buffalo is 2-2 in the morning, including a 5-1 win over the Indians on May 19. On last year’s School Kids Day (May 27), INF MIKE HESSMAN hit a walk off home run in the 10th inning to defeat Toledo, 8-7.



ON THE MEND: INF ZACH LUTZ went 0-4 with a walk in his second game for Single-A St. Lucie last night. He is now 0-8 with an RBI with the Mets..RHP TOBI STONER allowed just one run on four hits in six innings for Double-A Binghamton on Wednesday for a 4-1 win over Harrisburg (3BB, 4K).