Buffalo Pre-Game Notes

Buffalo Bisons (27-37, 5th(-13.0), North) vs. Columbus Clippers (41-22, 1st(+4.5), West)Sunday, June 12, 2011 (1:05 p.m.) - Coca-Cola Field



RHP Josh Stinson (3-5, 6.04) vs. RHP Jeanmar Gomez (5-1, 2.36)


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



TODAY’S GAME: This afternoon, the Bisons take on the Columbus Clippers in the second game of a four-game series from Coca-Cola Field (1:05 p.m.). Columbus won the series opener last night by a 7-6 score. Buffalo is now 1-4 on its eight-game homestand which began with a series loss to Indy. After Wednesday’s off-day, the Bisons travel to Norfolk to face the Tides.



VS. THE CLIPPERS: Columbus earned the 7-6 win last night, their first victory at Coca-Cola Field since May 22, 2009. Since then, the Herd had won six straight over the Clippers in Downtown Buffalo. Last season, the Bisons won six of eight overall against Columbus, including a four-game sweep at home.



OUR PAL, VAL: INF VALENTINO PASCUCCI has driven in seven runs in his last three games as he moves up the league’s RBI chart. With a team-high 41RBI on the season, Pascucci is tied for 4th-most in the IL. The slugger has 36 runs driven in since May 10, or 10 more than any other player in the league during that span. In his last 30 games, Pascucci has averaged .320 (31-97) with 10 doubles, seven homers and a .639 slugging percentage.



WALK THE LINE: The Bisons have been extremely patient of late. The club has drawn 25 walks over the past three games, including nine free passes in last night’s contest. INF VALENTINO PASCUCCI ranks tied for fourth in the IL with 34 walks. INF LUIS FIGUEROA has seven free passes in his last five games and INF MICHAEL FISHER has seven walks in his last four contests. On the year, Buffalo has drawn 218 walks, third most in the IL.



TWIN STREAKS: INF MICHAEL FISHER and INF LUIS FIGUEROA have nearly identical streaks. Figueroa comes into today’s action with a seven-game streak while Fisher has hit in six straight. Despite the game difference, each batter has averaged .318 (7-22) during their stretches. Figueroa has scored seven times during his streak while Fisher has come around five times.



BISONS BITS: INF ZACH LUTZ is 4-9 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored in his two games since returning from the DL...The Bisons lineup has been retired 1-2-3 in just four times in the last three games...RHP D.J. CARRASCO has been recalled to the Mets.