Pre-Game Notes - 1pm - Buffalo Bisons

Buffalo Bisons (4-4, T3rd(-2.0), North) vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (2-5, 6th(-3.5), North)
Friday, April 13, 2012 (1:05 p.m.) - Coca-Cola Field
RHP Jeremy Hefner (1-0, 2.57) vs. RHP D.J. Mitchell (1-0, 0.00)
Radio: WWKB AM 1520, bisons.com

TODAY’S GAME: This afternoon, the Buffalo Bisons host the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees in the rubber match of a three-game series at Coca-Cola Field (1:05 p.m.). After today’s game, the Herd’s nine-game homestand continues with a two-game weekend series against the Pawtucket Red Sox and then a four-game set against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

vs. YANKS: The Bisons and Yankees have split the first two games of their season series. Buffalo hit four home runs in a 12-3 victory over Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday. The Yanks rebounded with a 7-2 win at Coca-Cola Field yesterday. Last season, the Yankees won the season series against the Bisons, 10-6.

HUGE HEFNER: RHPJEREMY HEFNER is coming of a very impressive Bisons debut. On Sunday in Rochester, the righty allowed just three runs (two earned) in seven innings of work in a 5-3 win. The seven innings are the most by a Herd starter so far this season. Hefner has won at least nine games in each of his last four seasons.

STREAKIN: With an RBI-single in the first inning yesterday, INFZACH LUTZ extended his hit streak to seven games. Since the second game of the season, Lutz has hit .375 (9-24) with a double, two home runs and six RBI. Five of those runs batted in have come in Lutz’s last four games. So far this year, Lutz is hitting .385 (5-13) with runners on base.

WALK THE LINE: The Bisons have drawn 18 walks over the last two games.  INFVALENTINO PASCUCCI has been walked twice in each of the games this homestand and now has a .467 on-base percentage. INFJOSH SATIN and INF BOBBY SCALES each have three free passes over the last two days.

BISONS BITS: INFVALENTINO PASCUCCI has a .467 on-base pct. and a .870 slugging pct. -good for a 1.336 OPS...RHPFERNANDO CABRERA and LHP CHUCK JAMES have both started the season with three straight scoreless appearances out of the bullpen...So far this season, the Bisons have had records of 1-1, 3-3 and 4-4. Last year, the team had early season records of 1-1, 2-2, 3-3 and 4-4 before suffering a six-game losing streak.

METS UPDATE: The Mets (4-2) had an off day on Thursday before beginning their first roadtrip of the season. New York will be away from Citi Field for six games, starting tonight with a 7:05 p.m. game in Philadelphia. It’s a game of former Bisons as RHPR.A. DICKEY goes for the Mets against LHP CLIFF LEE for the Phillies.