Tuesday, May 31, 2011 (7:15 p.m.) – Knights Stadium
Radio: WWKB AM 1520, bisons.com

Buffalo Bisons (24-28, T4th(-8.0), North)
RHP Chris Schwinden (3-2, 2.36)

Charlotte Knights (22-27, 3rd(-5.5), South)
RHP Deunte Heath (4-2, 3.52)

TODAY’S GAME: Tonight, the Bisons take on the Charlotte Knights in the second game of a four-game series from Knights Stadium (7:15 p.m.). The Bisons have won four games in a row for the first time this season. The win streak includes last night’s 7-5 victory in the series opener. Buffalo has also won six of its last eight games and is now an even 14-14 with one game left in May.
 
VS. THE KNIGHTS: The Bisons now have the 3-2 lead in their season series with the Knights. The two teams split a four-game series at Coca-Cola Field, May 21-24. In the five games against Charlotte, Buffalo hitters are averaging .301 with a .340 mark (18-53) with runners in scoring position.

SCHWING AND MISS: RHP CHRIS SCHWINDEN will make his ninth start of the season and his first since a May 21st outing against the Knights. The Triple-A rookie ranks tied for 3rd in the International League with his 2.36ERA. The righty has been particularly tough on the road this year where he is 2-1 with a 1.96ERA and 21 strikeouts in four starts and 23.0 innings of work.

HE’S THE MANNY: RHP MANNY ACOSTA has earned a save on three consecutive days. The righty closed out the second game of each doubleheader this weekend before collecting his fourth save of the season last night. The last Bisons pitcher to record a save on three straight days was RHP BUBBIE BUZACHERO from August 28-30, 2008. Acosta has now made eight consecutive scoreless appearances for Buffalo (8.2IP, 6H, 2BB, 14K).

GONE FISHIN’: INF MICHAEL FISHER has homered in consecutive games, the third Bison to accomplish the feat this year (Nieuwenhuis, Martinez). Last night, Fisher also became the first Bisons’ batter to score three times in a game this season. Fisher is hitting .300 (18-60) with three home runs and eight RBI in his first 17 career Triple-A games.

BISONS BITS: The Bisons collected a season-high 17 hits last night. The outburst raised the team’s season average four points in one game (.244 – .248)…OF LUCAS DUDA is 5-10 with two home runs, three RBI, two walks and four runs scored in four games since being activated off the disabled list. The Bisons bullpen has allowed just one run in the last seven games (19.2IP, 15H, 29K).

METS UPDATE: The Mets (25-28) collected a 7-3 win over the Pirates Yesterday. Former Bisons’ ace RHP DILLON GEE ran his record to 5-0 with eight strikeouts in seven innings of work. New York had 15 hits including three from former Bison INF RUBEN TEJADA. The Mets host the Pirates again tonight at 7:10 p.m.