The Buffalo Bisons today announced that OF LUCAS DUDA, INF JONATHAN MALO and LHP ROY MERRITT have been added to the Herd’s roster from the Double-A Binghamton Mets.

To make room on the roster, INF MIKE HESSMAN was placed on the team’s disabled list, retroactive to Thursday, June 10, with a right hand contusion. Also, OF EMMANUAL GARCIA was transferred to Single-A St. Lucie and INF MARSHALL HUBBARD was transferred to Double-A Binghamton.

Duda, 24, has spent the entire 2010 season with Binghamton and has hit .286 (46-161) with 17 doubles, six home runs and 34RBI in 45 games. His 17 doubles are tied for the third most in the Eastern League. Duda has also a team-high 29 walks to only 27 strikeouts for Binghamton.

Duda is in his fourth professional season after being drafted by the Mets in the seventh round of the 2007 draft. This will be his Triple-A debut.

Merritt, 24, is 1-3 with a 3.96ERA and six saves in 28 relief appearances for Binghamton (43.0IP, 37H, 22R, 19ER, 14BB, 33K). He leads the Eastern League in appearances and retired 19 consecutive batters at one point this season, April 25 – May 3. Opponents are hitting just .228 off Merritt.

Merritt was the 2009 Binghamton Pitcher of the Year after posting a career-high 14 saves. Overall, Merritt was 4-5 with a 3.45ERA in 56 games for the B-Mets. In his fourth season since being selected in the 29th round of the 2007 draft, Merritt will also be making his Triple-A debut with the Herd.

Malo has hit .234 (26-111) with eight doubles, two triples, two home runs and 13RBI in 40 games with Binghamton this season. He was promoted to the Bisons from May 19 – 26 and went 0-1 in two games.

Hessman has not played for the Bisons since getting hit on the right hand by a pitch on Sunday, June 6 in Norfolk. Despite the missed time, he still leads the International League with1 8 home runs and 57RBI.

Garcia hit .160 (8-50) with one RBI in 17 games with the Bisons. Hubbard had one hit in 17 at-bats in five games with Buffalo.

BISONS:
Russ Adams, RF
Justin Turner, 2B
Mike Jacobs, 1B
Mike Cervenak, 3B
Fernando Martinez, CF
Luca Duda, LF
Josh Thole, C
Andy Green, SS
Tobi Stoner, RHP

IRONPIGS:
Willy Taveras, CF
Rich Thomson, LF
John Mayberry Jr., RF
Andy Tracy, 1B
Cody Ransom, 3B
Melvin Dorta, 2B
John Suomi, C
Brian Bocock, SS
Nate Bump, RHP

Nelson Figueroa returned to Buffalo to face his former team and silenced the Bisons in a 10-1 IronPigs win.

Figueroa was dominant in his return to the Nickel City as he pitched six shutout innings. Over his six innings of work Figueroa allowed only five hits and struck out six batters. The former Bison is now 2-0 on the year and his ERA remains unblemished at 0.00.

The Iron Pigs got the offense going early when in the second inning third baseman Cody Ransom sent a ball to deep left field and stirred up some controversy. Originally called foul by the third base umpire Jon Merry after it landed over the left field wall just a few feet from the foul pole, the Iron Pigs argued that it hit the pole and should have been ruled a home run. After the four umpires discussed the play they ruled that it in fact did hit the foul pole and Ransom was credited with his 14th home run of the year.

The Iron Pigs then added three runs in the third inning when Bisons starting pitcher Dillon Gee allowed the first four runners to reach base. Right fielder John Mayberry Jr. would then get his 35th and 36th RBI of the season when he doubled on a sharp ground ball to left field to score Figueroa and center fielder Willy Taveras.

In his 13th start of the season, Gee had a difficult time recording outs in his four innings pitched. Gee allowed eight runs, seven of which were earned off of nine hits in his shortest outing of the year. Gee is now 6-4 for the season.

The Bisons were held scoreless after eight innings but finally got on the board in the ninth. They managed to avoid being shut out when center fielder Fernando Martinez scored off of a single from Marshall Hubbard with two outs.

The Herd’s offense was hard to come by. Shortstop Justin Turner and Martinez provided most of the offense for the Herd as Martinez recorded three hits and the only run while Turner had two hits for the day. Turner recorded two doubles but was unable to be driven home by those batting behind him. Catcher Josh Thole also had two hits on the day.

The losing streak for the Herd is now extended to seven games, the longest this season and tied for the longest from last year as they dropped seven straight on two different occasions last season. The Bisons are now 33-31 and the Iron Pigs improved to 25-38.

BISONS NOTES: The Bisons will try to end their losing streak tomorrow when they take on the Iron Pigs in the third game of a four game series. The Bisons will send Tobi Stoner (3-6, 5.23 ERA) to the mound to take on Nate Bump (5-3, 2.96 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

BISONS:
Russ Adams, 2B
Justin Turner, SS
Mike Jacobs, 1B
Valentino Pascucci, RF
Fernando Martinez, CF
Mike Cervenak, 3B
Josh Thole, C
Andy Green, LF
Dillon Gee, RHP

IRONPIGS:
Willy Taveras, CF
Melvin Dorta, 2B
John Mayberry Jr., RF
Andy Tracy, 1B
Cody Ransom, 3B
Chris Duffy, LF
Dane Sardinha, C
Brian Bocock, SS
Nelson Figueroa, RHP

BISONS:
Russ Adams, RF
Justin Turner, 2B
Mike Jacobs, 1B
Mike Cervenak, 3B
Fernando Martinez, CF
Josh Thole, C
Marshall Hubbard, LF
Andy Green, SS
Bobby Livingston, LHP

IRONPIGS:
Willy Taveras, CF
Melvin Dorta, 2B
John Mayberry Jr., RF
Andy Tracy, 1B
Cody Ransom, 3B
Chris Duffy, LF
Dane Sardinha, C
Brian Bocock, SS
Drew Carpenter, RHP