Making his second start for the Herd this season, Raul Valdez pitched five scoreless innings in a 2-0 Bisons win against the Rochester Red Wings at Coca-Cola Field tonight.

The left hander gave the Herd his best stuff as he only allowed three hits in his five inning outing while striking out six Red Wings. Valdes picked up his first win of the season by giving up only one extra-base hit and not allowing a runner past second base in his 73 pitch start.

The offense for the Herd came in little amounts, but it was enough for their third straight win. Left fielder Lucas Duda hit another home run in the third inning. The solo shot gave the Herd their first run of the game and it proved to be enough as the pitching staff was able to shutout the Red Wings.

Duda took a 1-1 offering from Red Wings starting pitcher Ryan Mullins deep to right to give him his fourth consecutive game with a home run as well as his fifth homer of the season. Duda is the first Bison to hit a home run in four straight games since Andy Marte hit a homer in five straight games from June 15-19 in 2006. The Bisons have only had four players hit a home run in five straight games in the team’s history.

Mullins gave the Red Wings a quality start, going six and two thirds innings while giving up six hits and only two earned runs, including Duda’s homer. Mullins was outpitched by Valdes however and was credited with the loss, he now drops to 4-6 on the season.

After Valdes’ exit, the Bisons bullpen came in to secure the victory. Following Valdes was Bobby Livingston who pitched two and two thirds innings of relief. Livingston only allowed three hits and kept the shut out going in his appearance. Acosta relieved Livinston and did not allow a hit while picking up the save. He now has four on the season.

The win brings the Herd to 42-39 and it is the fifth time the Bisons have shut out an opponent this season. The loss for Rochester drops the Red Wings to 30-52 for the year.

BISONS NOTES: Shortstop Luis Hernandez went 3-4 on the day with three doubles in his third game with the Herd. He is the first Bison to hit for three doubles this season and those were his also his first three hits as a member of the Herd. The Bisons will continue their three game series with the Red Wings tomorrow when All-Star Pat Misch (7-3, 3.46 ERA) takes on Anthony Swarzak (1-4, 4.60 ERA) at 7:35 p.m.

BISONS:
Justin Turner, 2B
Luis Hernandez, SS
Jorge Padilla, CF
Mike Jacobs, DH
Valentino Pascucci, 1B
Fernando Martinez, RF
Mike Cervenak, 3B
Lucas Duda, 3B
JR House, C

Raul Valdes, LHP

RED WINGS:
Dustin Martin, CF
Trevor Plouffe, SS
Brendan Harris, 3B
Brock Peterson, 1B
Wil Ramos, DH
D’Angelo Jimenez, 2B
Jose Morales, C
Matt Macri, RF
Toby Gardenhire, LF

Ryan Mullins, LHP

The Buffalo Bisons announced the following updates with regards to the team’s KeyBank Independence Eve Celebration on Saturday, July 3rd against the Rochester Red Wings at Coca-Cola Field (6:05 p.m.).

Because of the expected crowd on Saturday, the Bisons announced that they will open the gates to Coca-Cola Field 30 minutes earlier than normal. All gates to the ballpark will be open at 4:30 p.m.

Print-at-Home and Outlet Will Call
To avoid long lines on game day, the Bisons are encouraging fans who purchase tickets online at Bisons.com to use the print-at-home technology.

Fans who have already purchased tickets online can pick up their tickets at Outlet Will Call at any Tickets.com locations until 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 3.

Tickets may also be picked up at the Coca-Cola Field Box Office prior to Saturday, July 3rd. The Box Office will be open on Thursday and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to the end of the Bisons home games those nights. The Box Office will also be open starting at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 3.

Ticket Sales and BPO 4-Packs
The Bisons announced on Thursday that less than 5,000 tickets remain for the KeyBank Independence Eve Celebration.

The team also announced that there are only a limited number of BPO 4-Packs available for the event. Fans can purchase four tickets, four hot dogs, four sodas and one official souvenir for only $99 for a limited time on Bisons.com. The deadline to purchase the BPO 4-Pack is by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, July 2.

For more information, fans are encouraged to visit Bisons.com or call THE-HERD at (716) 843-4373.

Tonight, the Buffalo Bisons homestand continues with a three-game series against the Rochester Red Wings. The Bisons are now 24-16 at home this season and meet the ‘Wings for the first time since late April, after the two clubs split a short two-game set.

vs. THE WINGS: The Bisons were just 6-10 against Rochester last season in a back-and-forth rivalry. Neither team won more than two straight in the season series last year. Since returning to the International League in 1998, the Bisons hold the 105-88 series edge, including a 54-42 mark at Coca-Cola Field.

Projected Pitching Matchups for Rochester vs Buffalo:
Thur. LHP Ryan Mullins (4-5, 4.68) vs. LHP Raul Valdes (0-0, 1.93)
Fri. RHP Anthony Swarzak (1-4, 6.40) vs. LHP Pat Misch (7-3, 3.46)
Sat. LHP Glen Perkins (1-8, 8.25) vs. RHP Ramon Ortiz (0-0, 14.14)

WHIPLASH: The Red Wings pitching staff has struggled to keep the opposing batters in the ballpark. Rochester has allowed at least one home run in 22 of their last 23 games. The Wings hurlers have allowed 42 home runs in those 23 games. Prior to this stretch Rochester didn’t allow a home run for 53 consecutive innings (6 games). Rochester has allowed 92 home runs this season which leads the International League.

GOOD WOOD FOR THE BAD GUYS: The Red Wings opponents have brought the lumber the last nine games batting .300. Rochester is allowing 6.8 runs per game (60 total runs) during these nine games and has allowed 11 or more hits in six of the eight games.

RED WINGS BREAK 7-GAME SKID: Second baseman Toby Gardenhire broke a 2-2 tie with a RBI single scoring Jose Morales with one out in the top of the seventh inning, as Rochester defeated Lehigh Lalley 3-2, Tuesday night. Reliever Pat Neshek (1-0) picked up the win while closer Anthony Slama recorded the final three outs to pick up his 15th save of the season. Rochester broke a season-high seven-game losing streak with last night’s win.

JUNE SWOON: The Red Wings concluded the month of June with a losing record for only the second time in the eight years as a Minnesota Twins affiliate. With the loss Wednesday, Rochester finished 11-18 record in June which would be the worst record the Red Wings have had in June since 1992 when they had an 11-19 record. It is only the fifth time since 1980, when month-to-month records begin that Rochester would have 18 or more losses in June.

DIVISION RIVALS: The Red Wings are in the midst of playing their final 18 games prior to the All-Star break (July 12-14) against North Division rivals. Rochester will play nine games vs. Scranton, five games vs. Buffalo, two games vs. Lehigh Valley, and two games vs. Pawtucket. The Red Wings play 54 of their final 70 games vs. North Division rivals. So far they are 1-6 during this 18-game stretch.

ROAD WARRIORS, AGAIN: The Red Wings continue their season-long 10-game, nine-day road trip. Rochester played in Lehigh Valley before concluding the trip with a three-game series in Buffalo Thursday-Saturday.

ALL-STAR WINGS: Outfielder Dustin Martin and pitcher Anthony Slama will represent the Red Wings in the 2010 Triple-A All-Star Game. The 26-year-old Martin is in his 3rd full season with the Twins organization. Originally, the Mets’ 26th round pick in 2006 out of Sam Houston State University. Entering the week, Slama had a 1.42 ERA and 14 saves, with 49 strikeouts in 44 1/3 innings. League hitters have a .122 batting average this season. The 26-year-old is in his 2nd season in Triple in his 4th year in the Twins organization, and was the Twins’ 39th round pick in 2006 out of the University of San Diego.

Looking back at the Bisons & Red Wings first series:
4/21: ROC 6, BUF 1
Redwings’ shortstop Trevor Plouffe finished a double shy of the cycle as he led Rochester to a 6-1 victory over Buffalo Wednesday night from Frontier Field. The Bisons’ Chris Carter missed his cycle by a triple, but the Bisons could only put one run on the board. Rochester’s attack was constant all game, scoring in five of the game’s first seven innings. Plouffe had three of Rochester’s 12 hits and his one-out triple in the first inning got his team started. Luke Hughes delivered the RBI-ground out one batter later to give the Wings a 1-0 lead. Rochester scored two in the second inning and then got a solo home run from Wilson Ramos in the fourth for a 4-0 lead. Plouffe hit his home run with one out in the seventh to give the Wings the decisive 6-1 edge. After singling in the second inning and doubling in the fourth, Carter homered to lead off the seventh for Buffalo’s lone run. Adam Pettyjohn (0-1) suffered the loss for Buffalo. The southpaw allowed four runs in four innings of work. He struck out four batters, including all three Red Wings who came up to bad in the third inning. Prior to the game, the Bisons activated INF Andy Green of the disabled list. He had missed the first 12 games of the season with a right hamstring strain. The Mets also recalled Manny Acosta prior to Wednesday’s game. RHP Tobi Stoner will return to the club’s rotation on Friday night, the first game of a four-game series in Pawtucket.

4/22: BUF 12, ROC 3
The Bisons posted season-highs in runs and hits as they pounded the rival Red Wings, 12-3, on Thursday afternoon from Rochester. Josh Thole drove in four, Jesus Feliciano scored four times and the team combined for 15 total base hits. The bulk of the damage for Buffalo came in a five-run sixth inning as the team batted around for the first time in 2010. Nursing a 3-2 advantage, the Herd loaded the bases when Mike Cervenak doubled, Feliciano singled and Andy walked. Thole then drove a full count pitch from Rochester reliever Jose Lugo into the left-centerfield gap for a bases-clearing double. The two-out rally continued when Fernando Martinez doubled to right-center for the 7-2 lead. Two batters later, Chris Carter collected his third hit of the game with an RBI-single through the left side. Carter went 6-8 with three doubles and a home run in the two-game series at Frontier Field. The Bisons offense started early and used the extra-base hit to get on top of Rochester. Eight of Buffalo’s 15 hits went for more than one base, including doubles by Carter and Feliciano in the second inning to erase an early 1-0 Wings’ lead. Alex Cintron singled home Feliciano three pitches later for a 2-1 edge. Ahead 8-2 in the seventh, the Bisons poured it on thanks to a former Red Wings. Jason Pridie tripled home a pair on his third hit of the game before scoring on Thole’s sacrifice fly. Dillon Gee (3-0) kept his early season success going with another victory. The righty saw his shutout streak end at 13 innings when Erik Lis singled home Trevor Plouffe five batters into the game for the afternoon’s first run. Gee had posted back-to-back scoreless efforts to start the season. Against Rochester, Gee worked five innings and allowed two runs on six hits. He walked none and struck out four. Bobby Parnell retired nine of the 10 batters he faced. Mike O’Connor allowed a run in the ninth inning before closing out the win. Andy Green made his first start this season and went 3-4 with a double, an RBI, a walk and two runs scored. The infielder was activated on Wednesday after missing the first 12 games of the season with a right hamstring strain.

With a little bit of luck, some timely hitting and the red-hot Lucas Duda, the Bisons powered past the Chiefs, 9-4, Wednesday afternoon from Coca-Cola Field.

Duda homered for the third straight game to snap a 4-4 tie and Buffalo benefited from numerous Syracuse miscues to close out a two-game sweep of their divisional rival.

Duda’s homer rescued the Herd as Syracuse fought back from 4-0 down to tie the game in the fifth inning. The Triple-A rookie led off the bottom of the frame and drove a 2-1 offering from Chiefs’ starter Matt Chico to right-centerfield.

The blast was Duda’s fourth in only 14 games with the Bisons. He hit six homers in 45 games with Double-A Binghamton to start the season.

The Bisons kept the rally going in the fifth inning to break open the game. Mike Cervenak singled and scored two batters later on an RBI-hit from Justin Turner. The game then swung even further in the Herd’s favor as the Chiefs infield allowed Andy Green’s two-out pop up to land on the Coca-Cola Field dirt. Jorge Padilla made the miscue hurt with a booming two-run double off the left field wall.

Syracuse’s defense cost them in the second inning, as well. The Bisons scored two runs when Tobi Stoner and Turner reached on errors and centerfielder Justin Maxwell dropped Padilla’s fly ball.

Buffalo also scored a pair in the first inning on Andy Green’s double-steal of home and a bases-loaded wild pitch.

Stoner (4-7) earned the victory for Buffalo, his first at Coca-Cola Field this season. Stoner allowed four runs in five innings of work.

The victory pulled the Bisons to within 4.5 games of first place in the International League North. Division-leading Scranton/Wilkes-Barre plays Wednesday night in Pawtucket.

BISONS NOTES:Andy Green’s steal of home in the first inning was the Bisons’ first swipe of the plate since Asdrubal Cabrera on August 15, 2006 in Pawtucket…Mike Cervenak reached base all five times he came to the plate with three singles and a pair of walks. The Bisons third baseman also had a stolen base…Jorge Padilla finished the game 3-4 with a pair of doubles and four RBI.