The Buffalo Bisons, Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets, will hold their annual School Kids Day Game this morning (Monday, June 8). Over 11,000 children from Northern Pennsylvania to Niagara Falls are expected for a 10:35 a.m. first pitch against the Indianapolis Indians.

Among the educational themes for the game will be the American Heart Association’s “Empower ME” program which emphasizes healthy lifestyles for children. New York State 529 College Savings Program will feature the importance of secondary education. The Bisons and Buffalo News also worked over the last few months on a “Newspapers in Education” Program that has featured the use of technology to connect with the community.

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Bisons’ southpaw Jonathon Niese pitched well, Indians’ starter Ty Taubenheim was better; but it was shortstop Luis Cruz who did the damage against Buffalo for the second night in a row, driving in the only runs of the game as the Indians knocked off the Bisons, 2-0.

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Wily Mo Pena extended his hit streak to 13 games with a single to lead-off the seventh inning. Pena finished the day 1-for-4 and is now hitting .327 (17-52) with three home runs and eight RBI during the streak.

Up next: Kids Day at Coca-Cola Field at 10:35 a.m. on Monday against Indianapolis. The game is on radio (WWKB 1520) and on TV – Time Warner Cable SportsNet (Ch.13).

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TODAY’S GAME: This afternoon, the Buffalo Bisons face the Indianapolis Indians in the second game of a four-game series at Coca-Cola Field (1:05 p.m.). Indy took the earlier lead in the series thanks to a 9-2 victory last night. After their series with the Indians, the Bisons will welcome in the Durham Bulls from June 11-14, to conclude this eight-game in nine-day homestand.

VS. THE INDIANS: This is just the second meeting between the Bisons and the Indians this season. Indianapolis has had the better of the match-up recently, as the Bisons have not won a four-game series against the Indians since taking three of four in Indy, June 28 – July 1, 2004. Still, Buffalo owns the 48-40 edge over Indy since returning to the I.L. in 1998 (.545 winning pct.).

A SLUGGER’S DOZEN: OF Wily Mo Pena extended his hit streak in a loud way last night. Pena blasted a two-run homer as part of a two-hit game against the Indians. The slugger now has a 12-game hit streak, tops for the Bisons this season. Since May 25, Pena has hit .333 (16-48) with a double, three home runs and eight RBI. The streak has raised his average 57 points from .200 to .257.

METS ADD ARM: The Mets claimed LHP Pat Misch off waivers (San Francisco) on Friday and assigned him to the Bisons. The 27-year old southpaw was 3-0 with a 2.00ERA and one save in 12 games with Fresno (AAA) of the Pacific Coast League. He earned a big league promotion on May 13 and posted a 10.80ERA in three relief outings with the Giants.

BULLY FOR THE PEN: RHP Tim McNab has allowed just one run in his last seven appearances. The stretch includes 11.2 innings of work. RHP Elmer Dessens has converted his last seven save opportunities and has allowed just four runs in 20 appearances (28.0IP) this year for a 1.29ERA. RHP Adam Bostick has struck out four in his first three innings as a Bison (no hits allowed).

UNHAPPY LIST: The Bisons have seven players on the disabled list: RHP Dillon Gee, INF Andy Green, INF Mark Kiger, OF Bobby Kielty, RHP Carlos Muniz, C Mike Nickeas and INF Argenis Reyes. On the year, the Bisons have already lost 179 man-games to injury.

The Bisons got a two-run homer from Wily Mo Pena in the first but would be kept off the scoreboard the rest of the way against Indianapolis on Saturday night. The Indians took the series opener 9-2 over Buffalo.

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Pena’s long ball extended his team best hit streak to 12 games (16-48) with three home runs in the span since May 25.

Buffalo faces Indianapolis on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. at Coca-Cola Field and continues the 8-game homestand.
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ARRIVE: Get to the game

The final game between Buffalo and Norfolk won’t be happening tonight. Mainly because Harbor Park has practically become part of the harbor!

Since this was the final game of the head-to-head series the Bisons and Tides will lose the game all together. Later on it could be a big deal if Norfolk continues to hunt for a playoff birth.

Buffalo is back home Saturday night to open a four game set versus Indianapolis!

There’s a lot going on during the Bisons nine day, eight game homestand: MORE