The Bisons pounded out 10 hits and had at least six ‘loud out’ during a 4-3 loss to Scranton/WB on Wednesday afternoon. Taking the win, the Yankees (7-0) continued their perfect start. For the Herd, Cory Sullivan, Fernando Martinez and Jose Coronado each had multi-hit performances.

LISTEN: Fernandez Martinez post-game

Prior to the game I talked with Brett Tomko, of the Yankee’s bullpen, about his role in the 60th Anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking baseball’s color barrier.

<a href="http://bisonsblog.mlblogs.com/Tomko41509.mp3&quot;

>LISTEN: Tomko talks about baseball and being an artist

Follow the Herd:
Listen to the Game Live: CLICK HERE!
Bisons Baseball Network: CLICK HERE!
Everything related to the Herd: CLICK HERE!
Get to the Game: CLICK HERE!

~ Ben Wagner

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: Today, the Buffalo Bisons host the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees in the third game of a four-game series from Coca-Cola Field (1:05 p.m.). The Herd is down 0-2 in the series following defeats of 6-5 and 5-3 to the Yanks. The Bisons are now 1-5 in their season-opening eight-game homestand. After Thursday’s finale against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the Herd will begin a six-game roadtrip in Syracuse.

F-MART: OF Fernando Martinez now leads the International League with six extra-base hits. Martinez doubled in five trips to the plate yesterday, his fourth two-bagger of the year. All six of Martinez’s hits have gone for extra-bases, with four doubles, a triple and a home run on Monday. Last year at Binghamton (AA), Martinez had 19 doubles, 4 triples and 8 home runs in 86 games.

FAST START: INF Michel Abreu has collected hits in each of his first three games with the team. Abreu has shown good pop with a single and a double yesterday to add to his monster home run on Monday. Abreu is now hitting .333 (4-12) with a team-high four RBI so far this season.

AT THE TOP: In his first game as the Bisons’ lead-off hitter, OF Jesus Feliciano went 4-6 with a double, a stolen base and an RBI. Feliciano is now 6 for his last 12, to raise his season average to a Bisons-high .350. Last year, Feliciano hit .308 in 139 games with New Orleans (AAA). He led the Zephyrs in average and had 33 more hits (157) than anyone else on the team.

PEN WORK: RHP Eddie Kunz allowed just one hit while striking out five in three impressive innings of relief work yesterday. Kunz has delivered three scoreless outings (6.1IP) for the Herd so far this year and earned the club’s lone win in Sunday’s 15-inning marathon. With his power right arm, Kunz has allowed just one hit to a right-handed batter in 15 at-bats this year.

START THINGS UP: The Bisons starting rotation is still looking for its first win in 2009. The Herd’s starters are 0-2 with a 4.71ERA in six games. The group does have 27 strikeouts in 28.2 innings of work. Today’s starter, RHP Dillon Gee, fanned six in 4.2 frames against Pawtucket last Friday.

Despite taking the loss, the Bisons bullpen worked 5 1/3 scoreless on Tuesday afternoon in a 5-3 decision over 11 innings at Coca-Cola Field against Scranton/WB. Eddie Kunz (pictured) punched out five during his three scoreless innings of work and surrendered just two hits after following starter Jon Niese. Carlos Muniz worked the first two of three scoreless before allowing the decisive runs.

At the plate, Jesus Feliciano picked up four of the Bisons season-high 11 hits.

LISTEN: Jesus Feliciano after the game
LISTEN: Eddie Kunz
Box Score: CLICK HERE!

Follow the Herd:
Listen to the Game Live: CLICK HERE!
Bisons Baseball Network: CLICK HERE!
Everything related to the Herd: CLICK HERE!
Get to the Game: CLICK HERE!

~ Ben Wagner

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: Today, the Buffalo Bisons host the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees in the second game of a four-game series from Coca-Cola Field (1:05 p.m.). The Herd lost the series opener to the Yanks yesterday, 6-5, despite slugging three homeruns. The Bisons are now 1-4 in their season-opening eight-game homestand. After Thursday’s finale against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the Herd will begin a six-game roadtrip in Syracuse.

F-MART: OF Fernando Martinez had two more extra-base hits yesterday, with a double to a left field and no-doubt homerun to right. Martinez already has three doubles, a triple and a homerun so far this season. He is one of only two players in the International League with five extra-base hits in 2009 (Rochester’s David Winfree).

GLOVE WORK: The Bisons played flawlessly in the field again yesterday, their third errorless game this season. The Bisons have a .991 fielding percentage so far in 2009, 3rd-best in the International League. They are also T2nd in the league with 7 doubleplays. The last three years, the Bisons have finished 12th (2006 – .974), 13th (2007 – .975) and dead last (2008 – .971) in team defense.

HOMER HAPPY HERD: Three Bisons players got their first homers of the season out of the way yesterday. OF Bobby Kielty yanked one down the left field line in the 2nd while INF Michel Abreu drove in three with a bomb to left-center in the 4th. OF Fernando Martinez became the first Bisons player to hit the Heron’s Landing Party Deck in the 5th inning for his first homer of the year. Buffalo’s four homeruns are tied for 3rd-most in the International League.

STILL AT ZERO: Four Bisons pitchers are still sporting perfect ERAs. Both RHP Nelson Figueroa and LHP Casey Fossum kept the PawSox off the scoreboard during their starts over the weekend. RHP Elmer Dessens and RHP Eddie Kunz have each pitched 3.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen.

ROSTER MOVE: Just prior to yesterday’s game, the Bisons activated RHP Brandon Knight from Brooklyn (A). Knight started yesterday and struck out a Bisons season-high seven in a no-decision. To make roster room, the Mets released INF Rob Mackowiak. He was 0-6 with an RBI in two games.

Shortly after going on the air Monday, we learned the sad news Hall of Fame broadcaster, Harry Kalas passed away. Read more here

Working for three years in the Phils’ system I ran across “HK” from time to time and it was clear to understand why he was an epic figure in Philly and in the game. For Philly fans, I’m glad you got to hear a classic Kalas call unfold as the Phillies won the World Series last season. Little known fact – he had to recreate the 1980 World Series win because the broadcast rights were exclusive to the national broadcasters.

The Bisons belted three homers but fell shy of Scranton/WB 6-5 Monday afternoon.
READ: Game Recap
READ: Box Score

Follow the Herd:
Listen to the Game Live: CLICK HERE!
Bisons Baseball Network: CLICK HERE!
Everything related to the Herd: CLICK HERE!
Get to the Game: CLICK HERE!

~ Ben Wagner