Buffalo Pre-Game Notes

Buffalo Bisons (28-40, T5th(-14.0), North) vs. Norfolk Tides (25-41, 4th(-11.0), South)Friday, June 17, 2011 (7:15 p.m.) - Harbor ParkLHP Mark Cohoon (1-2, 10.20) vs. RHP Rick VandenHurk (3-7, 5.21)Radio: WWKB AM 1520, WGR Sportsradio 550AM, bisons.com TODAY’S GAME: Tonight, the Bisons take on the Norfolk Tides in the second game of a four-game series from Harbor Park (7:15 p.m.). The Herd struck first in the series thanks to last night’s 7-4 win to open up an eight-game roadtrip. The Bisons will travel to Durham for four games against the Bulls, June 20-23. VS. THE TIDES: The Bisons are 1-0 against the Tides this year and have now won 10 of their last 13 games against Norfolk. Buffalo has been especially good at Harbor Park with a 36-17 record in 53 games at the Tides’ home. Dating back to 2009, Buffalo has won six of its last eight games in Norfolk. ON THE BUMP: LHP MARK COHOON gets the start tonight, his fourth outing with the Bisons. The Triple-A rookie has worked five innings in all three of his starts but has lost his last two games. A week ago tonight, Cohoon allowed six runs in five innings in a 12-6 loss to Indianapolis at Coca-Cola Field. The southpaw was 1-3 with a 3.81ERA in nine starts at Double-A. HUGE RETURN: INF ZACH LUTZ has been on fire since returning from the disabled list on June 10. The infielder has averaged .417 (10-24) with three doubles, three RBI and four runs scored in six games. In 19 total games this season, Lutz has posted a .419 on-base percentage and a .954 OPS. Lutz missed 44 games with a right hamstring strain and a left ring finger injury. GET FIGGY WITH IT: INF LUIS FIGUEROA continues to pound the baseball. He reached base three more times last night, including his first home run of the season. Figueroa’s 11-game hit streak includes a .405 batting average (15-27) and 12 walks. On the season, Figueroa has 38 hits and 19 walks in only 33 games, good for a .430 on-base percentage. BISONS BITS: INF MICHAEL FISHER brings a 10-game hit streak into tonight’s game. The Triple-A rookie has averaged .300 (12-40) since June 6...Last night’s contest was the third start in which INF VALENTINO PASCUCCI reached base in each plate appearance. He was also 2-2 with three walks on May 19 in Indy and 3-3 with two walks on June 1 in Charlotte...The Bisons set season highs with six doubles and seven extra-base hits in last night’s win. From team press release