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TODAY’S GAME: This afternoon, the Buffalo Bisons host the Norfolk Tides for the second game of a four-game series at Coca-Cola Field (1:05 p.m.). Buffalo struck first in the series with a 4-1 victory last night thanks to eight solid innings from RHP Brandon Knight and two RBI from OF Fernando Martinez. After this series, the homestand will continue on Tuesday with a four-game set against the Gwinnett Braves.

STARTING STRONG: The Bisons rotation has been the strength of the team of late. Since April 4, Herd starts have combined to go 3-3 with a 2.17ERA in nine starts. The group has struck out 39 and allowed just 42 hits and eight walks over 54.0 innings of work. The stretch includes a complete game from RHP Dillon Gee on May 2 vs. Louisville, a nine-strikeout performance by RHP Brandon Knight on May 3 and eight innings of one-run ball by Knight in last night’s victory over the Tides.

A NEW CLOSER: RHP Elmer Dessens has notched saves in back-to-back games for the Bisons. The veteran pitched 1-2-3 ninth innings in Thursday’s victory in Lehigh Valley and last night against the Tides. Dessens’ last previous save was July 4, 2006 while he was a member of the Kansas City Royals. Dessens had 10 career saves in over 1,800 professional innings before 2009.

EXTRA, EXTRA: OF Fernando Martinez continues to battle former Bisons MVP Todd Linden atop the IL hitting charts. Both sluggers doubled last night, so the two remain tied for the most doubles (12) and extra-base hits (17) in the International League. On the Bisons, Martinez has now pulled even with OF Jesus Feliciano for the top batting average (.300).

TRUST YOUR GLOVE: The Bisons have played four consecutive errorless games. The team now sports a .983 fielding percentage, the second-best mark in the International League. The Herd has committed an IL-low 16 errors this season. INF Argenis Reyes leads all second basemen with a .988 fielding pct.

SMOOTH CRIMINALS: C Robinson Cancel collected his third stolen base of the season last night. As a team, the Bisons have been safe in their last 16 steal attempts dating back to April 16. On the year, the Bisons have stolen 19 bases in 21 attempts (90%).

The Bisons’ bats rallied late to support 8-innings of 1-run ball tossed by Brandon Knight on Friday at Coca-Cola Field. Fernando Martinez and Michel Abreu came through with RBI hits to lead Buffalo in a 4-1 series opening win over Norfolk.

Knight worked a staff season high 8-innings and retired 11 of the final 12 batters to face him. Elmer Dessens worked a perfect 9-inning to earn his second save of the year, on back to back days.

READ: Game story

LISTEN: Manager Ken Oberkfell’s comments

The Bisons are back in action on Saturday afternoon at 1:05, hosting the Tides.
Promotional Info: CLICK HERE!

~ Ben Wagner

From the first pitch of the game on Thursday morning, the Bisons made sure they got back in the win column.

Corey Sullivan took the first offering he saw over the wall and Mike Lamb added a three-run double as the Bisons defeated the IronPigs, 6-4, on a morning start from Lehigh Valley on Thursday. Jon Switzer (pictured) and the Buffalo bullpen preserved the win with five innings of one-hit baseball.

READ: Game Recap

The Buffalo Bisons, Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets, will return home to Coca-Cola Field on Friday, May 8 for an eight-game homestand as the 2009 season and promotional schedule hits full stride.

This Friday marks the beginning of eight consecutive home games for the Bisons, May 8-15. Included in this stretch of games against the Norfolk Tides and the Gwinnett Braves are two fridaynightbash!® games,

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~ Ben Wagner

The Mets have recalled LHP Jonathon Niese. The southpaw was 0-2 with a 6.55ERA in four starts this season. He allowed just one run on three hits in six innings in his last start, May 1 against Louisville He also struck out a season-high eight batters in the start. Niese was 1-1 in three starts with New York last season.

STATS: Click here

Follow the Herd:
Listen to the Game Live: CLICK HERE!
Bisons Baseball Network: CLICK HERE!
Email the Broadcast Team: CLICK HERE!
Everything about the Herd: CLICK HERE!
Get to a Bisons Game: CLICK HERE!

TODAY’S GAME: This morning, the Buffalo Bisons take on against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs in the final game of a three-game series at Coca-Cola Park (10:35 a.m.). The series was originally four games but the teams couldn’t make up Monday’s rainout as doubleheaders on Tuesday and Wednesday night were both shortened to a single game due to rain. After today’s game, the Bisons will return home for the start of an eight-game homestand against the Norfolk Tides and the Gwinnett Braves.

GOSH GOLLY GEE: RHP Dillon Gee tossed the Herd’s lone complete games of 2009 in his last outing. Gee allowed just one run on six hits on Saturday to defeat Louisville in the first game of another doubleheader. He only struck out one Bats hitter, but still has 22 punchouts in only 27.0 innings this year.

STARTIN’ STRONG: RHP Tim Redding’s rehab start last night continued a nice stretch for the Bisons starting rotation. In the last seven games, Herd starters are 2-3 with a 1.71ERA. The group has combined to strike out 31 and walk just five in 42.0 innings of work over this recent span.

GONE STREAKIN’: OF Jesus Feliciano now owns the Bisons longest hit streak of the season at six games. Feliciano went 1-3 last night and is now 10 for his last 21 at the plate (.476 average) since April 29. The outfielder tops the Bisons with his .312 batting average for the season.

ON THE CHARTS: With a double and a triple last night, OF Fernando Martinez is back on top of the International League with his 16 extra-base hits. He has 11 doubles, which is also tied for the league’s best total. RHP Brandon Knight is tied for 7th in the league with his 29 strikeouts in only 25.0 innings of work. RHP Nelson Figueroa leads the entire International League with his 0.76 WHIP average (Walks and Hits/Innings Pitched).