Buffalo Bisons
61-54, 2nd(-7.5)
LHP Pat Misch: 10-4, 3.34

Lehigh Valley IronPigs
45-71, 5th(-24.0)
RHP Drew Carpenter: 7-8, 3.79

Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Coca-Cola Park – Allentown, PA

Radio: WWKB AM 1520, bisons.com

TODAY’S GAME: Tonight, the Buffalo Bisons take on the Lehigh Valley IronPigs in the second game of a two-game set at Coca-Cola Park (7:05 p.m.). The Herd is looking for the two-game sweep following an 8-1 victory last night. Buffalo has won nine of its last 10 games. Following tonight’s game, the Bisons move on to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre for a two-game set with the Yanks.

RED-HOT HERD: The Bisons have won five straight games and nine of their last 10. It’s the third time the club has won five consecutive games this season. They also won five straight, May 19-23 and July 16-20. The last time Buffalo won six games in a row was August 24-30, 2005 when they won seven straight.

vs. IRON PIGS: The Bisons are 8-5 against the IronPigs this year, having won six of the last seven contests. With a win today, the Herd will even its all-time record against Lehigh Valley (22-23). In the 2-plus years of the I-Pigs franchise, the Bisons have yet to win a series at Coca-Cola Park. (two splits, three losses).

DISH ON MISCH: LHP PAT MISCH returns to Coca-Cola Park tonight for the first time since pitching a scoreless inning in the 2010 Triple-A All-Star Game. Misch enters the game as the IL leader in innings pitched with 145.2. The southpaw also ranks 6th in IL in ERA (3.34) and tied for 5th in wins (10). Misch earned his 10th win of the season on July 31 in Buffalo when he tossed eight shutout innings in a 4-1 victory over the IronPigs.

TO DUDA LIST: OF LUCAS DUDA had two more runs and three more RBI in last night’s game. The Triple-A rookie has scored a run in 12 of his last 13 games (14 total runs). Duda has also hit in seven straight, with a .400 (10-25) average to go along with a home run and six RBI. Since his June 13 promotion, Duda leads all IL hitters with 30 extra-base hits and a .650 slugging pct.

BISONS BITS: OF JESUS FELICIANO scored four runs last night for the second time this season. He scored four on April 22 in Rochester and is the only Bison to achieve the feat this year…The Bisons hit into five doubleplays last night, tying a modern era record set eight other times (including May 12, 2010 in Louisville)…The Herd is 16-6 when LHP PAT MISCH starts this year.

METS UPDATE: The Mets (55-56) begin a six-game homestand tonight with the first of a three-game series with the Colorado Rockies. RHP MIKE PELFREY is slated to go for New York against RHP Ubaldo Jimenez for the Rocks. The Mets are in third place in the NL East, 8.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves. New York is eight games out in the Wild Card race, which is currently led by San Francisco.

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The system-wide strength of the New York Mets minor league organization was on full-displayed Monday night.

A trio of former Binghamton Mets buoyed the Bisons to their ninth win in 10 days as the Herd defeated the IronPigs, 8-1, at Coca-Cola Park.

Fresh up from the Double-A level, Michael Antonini threw six solid innings and Kirk Nieuwenhuis had three hits and three RBI in Buffalo’s win. Another former B-Met, Lucas Duda drove home three more runs to keep the red-hot Bisons on their winning ways.

Filling the rotation spot voided by Ramon Ortiz, Antonini allowed just an unearned run in his outing. The southpaw struck out the first two batters he faced on three pitches each and fanned five I-Pigs on the night. The only dent in his line came in the first inning when John Mayberry Jr. reached on a two-out error and scored on a Matthew Rizzotti single.

Antonini, who was 6-9 with a 4.32ERA in 23 starts with Binghamton this year, allowed just five hits and didn’t walk a batter in his 2010 Herd debut.

Antonini faired much better on Monday night than his first stint with Buffalo. The southpaw posted a 12.27ERA in two starts with the Bisons in 2009.

The Bisons offense came alive in the fourth inning of a 1-1 game. Jorge Padilla gave Buffalo a 2-1 advantage when he plated Duda on a sacrifice fly.

In the fifth, Duda plated two more runs with a two-out single to center. Duda and Nieuwenhuis drove home runs in a three-run seventh as the Bisons put the game away.

Buffalo also got four runs and three hits from Jesus Feliciano. The outfielder was activated by the team today after being optioned by the Mets on Saturday.

BISONS NOTES: The score might have been more lopsided if the Bisons didn’t hit into a record-tying five doubleplays. It was the eighth time in the modern era the team accomplished the dubious feat…Michael Antonini also had a single in two trips to the plate. He was hitless in nine at-bats at Double-A this season…The Bisons are now 8-5 this season against Lehigh Valley. Buffalo is one game away from evening their all-time record against the IronPigs, now at 22-23.

Buffalo Bisons
60-54, 2nd(-7.5)
LHP Michael Antonini (NR)

Lehigh Valley IronPigs
45-70, 5th(-23.0)
LHP Brian Mazone (6-11, 3.65)

Monday, August 9, 2010
Coca-Cola Park – Allentown, PA

Radio: WWKB AM 1520, bisons.com

TODAY’S GAME: Tonight, the Buffalo Bisons take on the Lehigh Valley IronPigs in the first game of a two-game set at Coca-Cola Park (7:05 p.m.). The Herd has won eight of its last nine games and just completed the four-game sweep against Columbus in Buffalo. Tonight’s game is the start of an eight-game roadtrip which includes stops in Scranton/WB and Pawtucket.

NEW STARTER: LHP MICHAEL ANTONINI was promoted from Double-A Binghamton today and will make 2010 Bisons debut tonight. With the B-Mets, Antonini was 6-9 with a 4.32ERA in 23 starts (131.1IP, 132H, 26BB, 106K). He is 4th in the Eastern League in strikeouts (106) and is 5th in innings pitched (131.1).

FELICIANO RETURNS: OF JESUS FELICIANO is back with the Bisons after his second stint with the Mets. The outfielder has hit .346 (85-246) in 67 games with the Bisons this season. His average is 37 plate appearances shy of qualifying as the top mark in the International League. If he did qualify, his average would lead all hitters by 22 points.

TO DUDA LIST: OF LUCAS DUDA went 1-2 with a run scored and two walks in yesterday’s win. The Triple-A rookie has now scored a run in 11 of his last 12 games (12 total runs). Since his June 13 promotion to the Bisons, Duda leads all International League hitters with 30 extra-base hits and a .653 slugging percentage. Duda has 40RBI in his first 47 Triple-A games.

vs. IRON PIGS: The Bisons are 7-5 against the IronPigs this year. The Herd won three of four games during the club’s last series, July 31 – August 3 at Coca-Cola Field. The last time the Bisons visited Coca-Cola Park, the Herd split four games with the I-Pigs. Buffalo hasn’t won a four-game set in the first two-plus seasons of the IronPigs franchise (two splits, three losses).

PIG TAILS: The fifth-place IronPigs play game one of a four-game series against the second-place Buffalo Bisons. With a 5-2 loss in 10 innings last night, the Pigs were swept by Gwinnett and have started 0-4 on this eight-game homestand.

HOME SWEET HOME: The Bisons finished their eight-game homestand against Lehigh Valley and Columbus with a 7-1 record. Buffalo’s sweep of the Clippers was the team’s first at Coca-Cola Field since June 20-23, 2005 against Norfolk. The Herd outscored the opposition 48-24 during the homestand, while Buffalo pitchers posted a 3.08ERA with 58 strikeouts in 73.0 innings.

METS UPDATE: The Mets (55-56) fell back under .500 on the season with a 6-5 loss against Philadelphia yesterday. INF JOSE REYES went 2-4 with two runs scored, two doubles and a walk. Former Bisons C JOSH THOLE went 3-4 with a run scored and a double, as well. The Mets have the day off and will begin a six-game homestand on Tuesday with the Colorado Rockies and the Philadelphia Phillies.

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vs. IRONPIGS: The Bisons are 7-5 against the IronPigs this year following a series win last week in Buffalo, taking 3-of-4 games. The Bisons and IronPigs split four-game sets in Lehigh Valley, May 22-25, and in Buffalo, June 12-15.

Buffalo lost the season-series last year, 6-10. Dating back to 2009, the Bisons have now won eight of their last 11 games against the IronPigs at Coca-Cola Field. Since returning to the IL, the Herd is 21-23 against Lehigh Valley.

UPCOMING PROBABLES: LEHIGH VALLEY VS. BUFFALO
MON: LHP Brian Mazone (6-11, 3.65) vs. LHP Mike Antonini (NR)
TUE: RHP Drew Carpenter (7-8, 3.79) vs. LHP Pat Misch (10-4, 3.44)

LOOKING AT LEHIGH VALLEY:
PIG TAILS: The Pigs have started 0-4, following Gwinnett’s sweep, on the current eight-game homestand and have now lost 12 of their last 13 affairs. With last night’s loss, the Pigs have set a new ’10 low-water mark of 25 G below .500- their lowest since ending ’08 at 55-89 (34-G below). They are now also a season-high 23 GB in the North – their largest deficit since ending ’08 at 33.0 GB.

OFFENSIVE WOES: In the Pigs last 13 G (1-12), the team is averaging just 2.5 R/G (33) and batting just .222 – scoring just 1 R in 4 of the last 10 G. LHV hasn’t had a SB in last 8 G and 81.1 innings (since Bocock in the 3rd on 7/29 vs. DUR). Saturday night, the Pigs had 9 extra basehits (7 2B, 2 HR) after having just 8 in the previous 8 G (all 2B).

ARMED WITH A BAT TOO: LHP Brian Mazone hit the first HR of his Triple-A career (62nd AB). His first/only HR came with Double-A Norwich on 8/9/05 @ BIN. Rather ironic, both LHV all-time pinch-hit HRs have been by pitchers (Joe Savery, 7/17/10 @ LOU). On the mound, Mazone’s last 2G has gone 1-0, 1.20 (15 ip, 10 h, 2 r, 2 er, bb, 10 k).

NORTHERN LIGHTS: The Pigs’ will play their final 29 G against the North Division. LHV has gone just 21-43 out-of-division [9-23 vs. South, 12-20 vs. West] while going a much more respectable 24-27 (.471) vs. the North. Last season, the North was the only division the Pigs had a winning record against at 42-38 (.525).

WHO’S HOT (BATTING): OF Rich Thompson has hit in his last 8G (13-34, .382-0-4, 4 2B) and has a combined 12-G hitting streak (22-55, .400-0-9). Overall, he’s hit in 17 of his last 22 w/ LHV (30-82, .345-1-11)… Since returning from the DL 7/28 (missed 13 G), INF Melvin Dorta has hit in 9 of 11 G (15-41, .366-1-6) – including his first 4-hit G of ’10 on 8/3 (4-5, 2 RBI)… SS Brian Bocock has hit in 18 of last 26 G (26-92, .283-3-15)… OF Matt Rizzotti has hit in his last 8 GS combined (11-29, .379-0-4) and .361-17-73 (138-382) in ’10… C Paul Hoover has hit in his last 5 G (6-15, .400, 2 2B).

WHO’S HOT (PITCHING): LHP Antonio Bastardo has not allowed a R in 15 G w/ LHV (3 SV, 0.00, 13.2 ip, 4 h, 3 bb, 21 k) — retiring 22 consecutive BF at one point from 7/17-7/31… RHP Michael Schwimer started his Triple-A career with 8 scoreless appearances (9.1 IP) and is unscored upon in 10 of 12 G… RHP Vance Worley went 12.0 scoreless IP in his first 2GS w/ LHV – going 30.0 consecutive scoreless IP combined before a Fernando Martinez HR, 8/1.

“MATT THE BAT” ARRIVES!: INF Matthew Rizzotti — who has a had a remarkable 2010 season — was promoted to LHV from Double-A Reading on 8/5. Since his 5/13 promotion from Clearwater, Rizzotti, 24, was batting .362-13-61 in 76 G with Reading — leading
the Eastern League in AVG, SLG (.638) and OBP (.451)… The Floral Park, NY, native has racked up several honors this season: EL All-Star selection, EL Player of the Month for June (.369-7-24), an EL Player of the Week (6/21-6/27) and the Phillies Minor League Player of the Month for May. Originally selected by PHI in the 6th round of 2007
out of Manhattan College, Rizzotti batted .358-1-10 in 31 G with CLE (A+) — and is a combined .361-17-73 in 2010.

GREAT SCOTT!: With his 20th SV on 7/24, 2010 IL All-Star RHP Scott Mathieson has tied both the LHV single-season and franchise record for saves (RHP Matt Childers, 20 in 2008). The Vancouver native is unscored upon in 13 of last 16 G (6/27-pres), going 1-2, 8 SV. He has now pitched 2.0 IP on 11 occassions – going 2-0, 6 SV, 0.41 (22 ip, 1 er) in those outings. On 6/18 vs. MIN, made his first ML appearance since 9/3/06.

500 ALLERGY: The ‘Pigs have only been at .500 for just two times in LHV history… and they still have never been above .500 in 402 games… In fact, the Phillies Triple-A affiliate has not been above .500 since Ottawa was 22-21 on 5/24/07 — a span of 503 games (3 years, 2 months, 15 days)… Since that point, the teams have combined to go 204-299. Lehigh Valley is combined 171-231 (.425) in its 402-game history.

HUPPERT CLIMBING CHARTS: With Lehigh Valley’s 5-1 win 5/31/09, ‘Pigs skipper Dave Huppert earned his 1,500th career MiLB win since starting his managerial career in 1986. With a record of 1,551-1,377, ‘Hupp’ entered the season ranked 3rd among all active managers in wins behind (1) Round Rock’s Marc Bombard [entered season 1,706-1,541] and (2) Orem’s Tom Kotchman [entered 1,584-1,327]. Unofficially, the record for Minor League wins is held by Stan Wasiak 2,530 from 1950-1986; 1,824 needed to crack Top 20.

LOOKING BACK AT THE HEAD-TO-HEAD MATCHUPS:
8/3/10: LHV 6, BUF 1
GAME STORY: ‘Pigs pound out victory

8/2/10: BUF 7, LHV 3
GAME STORY: Gee, Evans power Bisons win

8/1/10: BUF 2, LHV 1
GAME STORY: Evans drives in game-winner

7/31/10: BUF 4, LHV 1
GAME STORY: Misch dominates IronPigshttp://bisonsblog.mlblogs.com/archives/2010/07/misch_dominates_ironpigs_1.html

6/15/10: BUF 7, LHV 3
GAME STORY: Bisons hit for split

6/14/10: BUF 7, LHV 6
GAME STORY: A grand finish

6/13/10: LHV 10, BUF 1
GAME STORY: I-Pigs roll in win

6/12/10: LHV 6, BUF 3
GAME STORY: Rain dampens Herd’s return

5/25/10: LHV 2, BUF 1
GAME STORY: IronPigs split with Herd

5/24/10: LHV 6, BUF 3
GAME STORY: Bisons win streak stopped

5/23/10: BUF 6, LHV 4
GAME STORY: Red-Hot Herd win again

5/22/10: BUF 4, LHV 1
GAME STORY: Pitching powers win

The Bisons kept on rolling this afternoon when they defeated the Columbus Clippers by a score of 6-3 at Coca-Cola Field. The win against Columbus is the fourth straight for the
Bisons as they completed their first four-game sweep since 2007.

The Clippers jumped out to an early lead in the second inning. Following Bisons starter Tobi Stoner giving up back-to-back walks to Wes Hodges and Drew Sutton to lead off the inning, Jerad Head’s double was good enough to drive home Hodges for an early 1-0 lead.

After Head’s double, Bisons first baseman Nick Evans completed an unusual double play. With men on second and third Clippers catcher Richard Martinez grounded over to Evans and he made the easy out at first. With Head on second he initially took off from second with the contact not knowing that Sutton did not leave third and he was caught in a rundown.

Evans took the initiative to run over towards Head who was stuck between second and third, and made the tag for the rare, unassisted three-double play.

After the unassisted twin killing, former Bison Argenis Reyes knocked a single to left to drive home Sutton and make the score 2-0.

Stoner did not make it easy on himself in today’s outing but he got the win nonetheless. The right hander went five innings while giving up eight hits and yielding two walks. Although he allowed ten base runners aboard he only gave up two runs en route to picking up his sixth win of the season.

The Clippers would not hold onto the lead for long as the Herd climbed right back into the game in the third. Third baseman Mike Cervenak hit his fifth home run of the season by sending a deep fly to left field to trim the lead to 2-1. Kirk Nieuwenhuis got his second double as a member of the Bisons later in the inning and was driven home by Justin Turner’s 26th double of the year to tie the ballgame.

Since July 4th, Turner has got a hit in 21 of his last 23 games. During that stretch Turner is hitting .380 and has added 15 RBI and 19 runs scored.

Buffalo would then claim the lead for good in the fifth. After Evans hit a double to left, Russ Adams sent a bomb to straight away center field. Fighting the winds that were swirling around Coca-Cola Field today, Adams sent one deep to center that cleared the 404 feet sign standing in straight away center and gave his team a 4-2 lead.

Adams’ two-run blast was his ninth of the season and his second in the last three games that he has played in.

The Herd would add two more insurance runs in the seventh to secure the victory. Columbus would not make it an easy win for the Bisons however as they scored a run in the ninth and with one out had base runners on second and third. Ryota Igarashi picked up his second save of the season by striking out Josh Rodriguez and getting Cord Phelps to fly out to left to end the game.

The win for the Herd was their fourth straight and they have now won eight of their last nine contests. This was also the first four-game sweep at Coca-Cola Field since 2005. Back in 2005 the Herd took four of four from the Norfolk Tides between June 20-23. That Tides ballclub was managed by current Bisons skipper Ken Oberkfell.

The Bisons are now 60-54 for the year. The Bisons have already eclipsed their win total of last season when the club went 56-87 last year. The Herd trail the Louisville Bats by three games of the IL’s lone Wild Card spot. The Bats will finish their four-game set with the Tides later this evening.

BISONS NOTES: The Herd will hit the road tomorrow for a eight game, nine day road trip. The Bisons first stop will be Lehigh Valley for a two-game series with the Iron Pigs. Following that they will pack up and travel to Scranton for another two-game set against the Yankees and will finish it off with a four-game series in Pawtucket against the Red Sox. Joining the Herd for the road trip will be Michael Antonini. The lefty will be starting for the Bisons tomorrow when they face Lehigh Valley.