Jason Cooper played in his 400th game as a Buffalo Bison Monday night. The game tied him with Buffalo Baseball Hall of Famer Tom Prince for the most in the team’s Modern Era. Hear his thoughts heading into the game and how manager Torey Lovullo feels about the feat.

Cooper and Lovullo share thoughts: LISTEN HERE!

Cooper also ranks second in RBI (219), doubles (80), third in walks (167), tied for third in triples (18), fourth in runs (202) and sixth in hits (322) and home runs (49).

Travis Hafner nailed a ball off the right field fence in his first at bat and would finish the game 2-3 at the plate during Buffalo’s 5-1 win over Lehigh Valley Monday night. Josh Barfield would sac in a run later in the contest.

Travis Talks: CLICK HERE!
Bisons.com Game Story: CLICK HERE!

Both Hafner and Barfield were playing on their rehab assignment from the Cleveland Indians and are expected to stay with the team through the homestand that ends Thursday afternoon.

Tribe catcher, Victor Martinez is expected to join Buffalo on Tuesday night and work behind the plate for six innings as part of his rehabilitation.

Tonight, the Buffalo Bisons welcome the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs in for the first game of a four-game series at Dunn Tire Park (7:05 p.m.). The Herd is coming off two consecutive two-game splits (Rochester, Pawtucket) to open this eight-game homestand. On the mound this evening for the Herd is LHP David Huff. The southpaw’s last start was at Lehigh Valley on August 10. He struck out six and allowed just one run in five innings of work in a no-decision. Lehigh Valley will counter with LHP Fabio Castro.

RECORD SETTING: OF Jason Cooper is scheduled to play in his 400th game played as a Bison tonight. That ties him with Buffalo Baseball Hall of Famer C Tom Prince for the most in the team’s modern era. Cooper also ranks 2nd in the RBI (218), T2nd in doubles (79), 3rd in walks (167), T3rd in triples (18), 4th in runs (200), and 6th in hits (320) and home runs (49).

TODAY’S STARTER: David Huff
-Last Game: 8/10 vLHV: (ND, 5.0IP, 3H, 1R, 1ER, BB, 6K), Bisons’ 4-3 Win.
-2008 w/ Bisons: (4-4, 2.94)(13GS, 64.1IP, 51H, 25R, 21ER, 10BB, 65K).
-2008 w/ Akron (AA): (5-1, 1.92)(11G, 10GS, 65.2IP, 44H, 17R, 14ER, 14BB, 62K)
-2007 w/ Kinston (A): (4-1, 2.72)(11GS, 59.2IP, 57H, 23R, 18ER, 15BB, 46K).
-2007 Carolina League All-Star, missed second half of season (left elbow strain).
-2006 w/ Mahoning Valley (A): (0-1, 5.87)(4GS, 7.2IP, 9H, 5R, 5ER, 8K).
-Drafted by Cleveland in the 1st round (39th overall) of the 2006 MLB Draft

HUFF’S STUFF: LHP David Huff has been a model of consistency for the Herd. He has not allowed more than two runs in any of his last six starts and has yielded more than three earned runs only twice in 13 starts with the team. Huff began the 2008 season with the Double-A Akron Aeros where he led the Eastern League with a 1.92 ERA before getting called up on June 6. Since coming to the Bisons, Huff is 4-4 with a 2.94ERA and 65 strikeouts in 13 starts.

BISONS GET PRONK: DH Travis Hafner joins the team today on a major league rehab assignment. The DH has been out of Cleveland’s lineup since May 25 nursing a sore right shoulder. Since 2002, “Pronk” has been one of the most feared hitters in the majors with 146 home runs and 504RBI in 718 games. He hit 42 bombs with an AL-best .659 slugging percentage in 2006 and had 24 more homers last year. In 2008, Hafner has four homers and 22RBI in 46 games with the Tribe.

MORE HELP: INF Josh Barfield also joins the team today, rehabbing a finger injury. Barfield began the season in Buffalo,, hitting .255 with five homers and 21RBI in 62 games. He was injured his second game after a promotion to Cleveland. C Victor Martinez is scheduled to join the team on Tuesday.

Cleveland Indians DH Travis Hafner and INF Josh Barfield are in Torey Lovullo’s starting line-up for the Bisons game against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs TONIGHT at Dunn Tire Park (7:05 p.m.). Barfield is batting second and playing second base while “Pronk” will serve as the Herd’s DH and bat fourth in the lineup.

Both players are joining the team today as part of Major League rehab assignments. Barfield is scheduled to play six innings as he recovers from a finger injury. Hafner will get two plate appearances tonight as he continues to return from a sore shoulder.

Hafner will be available to the media once he is removed from tonight’s game. Interviews will be held inside the Bisons clubhouse.

Indians C Victor Martinez is scheduled to begin his rehab assignment with the team on Tuesday.

Also in tonight’s starting lineup is OF Jason Cooper. Cooper is batting ninth and playing left field in what will be his 400th game in a Buffalo Bisons uniform. The total ties him with Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame catcher Tom Prince for the most games played by a single player in the modern era.

Prince played 400 games with the Herd, 1988-1992.

A part of the team’s 2004 International League Governors’ Cup championship team, Cooper ranks 2nd in the Modern Era with 218RBI, 4th with 200 runs scored and 6th with 49 home runs and 320 total hits.

Beanball, ejections and collisions had the heart pumping on both sides during Team USA’s 9-1 rout of China.

Game Story: CLICK HERE!

Here are some links that I find helpful to track USA Baseball from Beijing:
USA Baseball: CLICK HERE!
MLB.com: CLICK HERE!
NBC Sports: CLICK HERE!

Future Games for Team USA:

Aug 19 Chnese Taipei 7:00 a.m.

Aug 20 Japan 7:00 a.m.

Aug 22 Olympic Semifinals

Aug 23 Olympic Medal Round