My apologies getting the game recap on the site a tad tardy tonight. NO! it wasn’t because I was watching the Sweet 16… “We” are trying to get a little landscaping done at the house before the madness of the first homestand takes over when Opening Day arrives.

Here’s the news you came for:
Bisons’ infielder Michel Abreu finished 2-4 with a two-run home run, while catcher Salvador Paniagua also homered for the Herd in a 4-4 tie this afternoon against the New Orleans Zephyrs (Marlins) in Port St. Lucie, FL.

In today’s action, LHP Jonathon Niese took the ball for Buffalo and allowed four runs in 4.1 innings of work.

Other News & Notes
Put one in the left column… The Bisons are now 0-3-3 in their 10-game exhibition schedule (one game lost to rain).

Pop the top… There are just 13 days until the Bisons open up the 2009 season on Thursday, April 9 at Coca-Cola Field against the Pawtucket Red Sox (3:05 p.m.). Tickets are now on-sale at bisons.com or by calling THE-HERD at (843-4373).

On the tube… Opening Day will be the first of nearly 40 televised games on Time Warner Cable SportsNet. Get the entire TV schedule: CLICK HERE!

Bisons Season Preview Show IV… The fourth of five Season Preview Shows will air on WWKB-AM 1520 this Sunday from 5-6 p.m. I have three great guests to look forward to on the show and each will offer their unique opinion and insight of the season ahead for the Mets and the Bisons. The final show, April 5, will be broadcast from Coca-Cola Field as the 2009 Bisons arrive for the first time after breaking Spring Training camp. Your calls (716-843-1520) and comments (broadcast@bisons.com) will be welcome as we broadcast live!

The Orange, crushed… The Syracuse Orange fell short of the Elite Eight on Friday night in Memphis. With one season ending, another will begin for the newest member of the Bisons’ broadcast team as Joel Godett arrives in Buffalo. Joel has been covering the ‘Cuse throughout the year and it will be great to hear first hand his experience of the six OT game at The Garden and the last two weeks during the dance. Joel will make his debut on Opening Day on WWKB while Duke and I are on television. (b/t/w… KB 1520 is an affiliate of Syracuse University athletics and we were joined by Voice of the Orange, Matt Park during our visits to the Salt City last year)

~ Ben Wagner