The Bisons posted a huge 1-0 win behind lefty, John Halama on Saturday night before better than 15,000 at Dunn Tire Park. In Beijing, Team USA gets a much needed off day to re-group before heading into the home stretch. If either team need inspiration to close out their respective campaigns, I offer two words: Michael Phelps.
Even a former AL Rookie of the Month, Aaron Laffey, has found inspiration from Phelps’ dominance across the Pacific.
They work for your cell phone, why not your favorite team too? The Bisons tallied 14 runs in the win last night over Rochester and would love to stash a few for the next couple of nights against Pawtucket. Granted, the ‘aces’ of the PawSox wont be on the mound for this series but both Michael Bowden and Devern Hansack have had flashes of brilliance this year. Lets hope the Herd’s offense can outshine both this weekend.
The Bisons eight-run fifth inning last night was their most potent frame since scoring nine in the ninth inning against Pawtucket on May 5, 2007. INF Michael Aubrey had the first and final hit of the frame with a one-out double to start the rally and an RBI-single to plate the eighth run. In-between, eight consecutive Bisons batters reached base with four doubles. INF Jorge Velandia and INF Andy Cannizaro had a two-run single and a two-run double respectively.
TODAY’S GAME: Tonight, the Buffalo Bisons host the Pawtucket Red Sox in the first game of a two-game series at Dunn Tire Park (7:05 p.m.). The Herd began this eight-game homestand with a two-game split against Rochester. On the mound tonight for the Bisons is LHP John Halama. The Bisons’ team leader in wins lost his last time out with seven innings of work against Lehigh Valley last Friday. Pawtucket will counter with RHP Michael Bowden.
TONIGHT’S STARTER: John Halama
-Last Game: 8/8 @LHV: (L, 7.0IP, 11H, 7R, 6ER, 6K), Bisons’ 7-3 loss.
-2008 w/ Bisons: (7-4, 4.35)(12GS, 2CG, 80.2IP, 91H, 43R, 39ER, 12BB, 36K).
-2008 w/ So. Maryland (IND): (4-1, 1.88)(8GS, 56.2IP, 47H, 13R, 12ER, 8BB, 48K).
-2007 w/ Long Island (IND): (8-10, 4.14)(26GS, 167.1IP, 201H, 94R, 77ER, 44BB, 93K).
-Career 56-48 with a 4.65ERA in 262 Major League Games (911.0IP, 492K).
-Originally a 23rd round pick (640th overall) of Houston in 1994 amateur draft.
-Signed as a free agent on June 7, 2008.
ON HALAMA’S BACK: LHP John Halama leads the Bisons with seven wins and has been very impressive at Dunn Tire Park. At home, the southpaw is 3-0 with a 2.76ERA and two complete games in four starts. Overall, Halama has worked six innings or more in each of his last six starts and has lasted seven frames in five of those outings.
DOUBLE DUTY: The Bisons hit a season-high seven doubles last night, including two from OF Trevor Crowe and INF Michael Aubrey. OF Brad Snyder hit his 25th on the year and is now two shy of INF Jordan Brown’s team-best 27. Add OF Todd Linden’s team-high 12th home run of the season and the Herd set a new season high with eight extra-base hits.
HIT STREAKING: The Bisons have several players entering tonight’s game on hit streaks: INF Andy Cannizaro (8 games, .310, 9-29), OF Todd Linden (7 games, .370, 10-27), INF Jordan Brown (6 games, .407, 11-27), OF Brad Snyder (5 games, .318, 7-22), and INF Jorge Velandia (4 games, .286, 4-14).
BISONS BITS: OF Jason Cooper played in his 398th game as a Bison yesterday. He’s two shy of C Tom Prince’s Modern Era record of 400 games…LHP Aaron Laffey has not allowed an earned run in five of his eight starts.
Team USA had to bounce back in a big way. Not only after taking a tough extra-inning loss to Cuba but then starting in a 4-0 hole against Canada last night. The Red, White and Blue wasn’t about to back down, rallying for a 5-4 win.
Duke and I talked about Rochester Red Wing, Brian Duensing last night and he tossed 3.1 scoreless to help give USA Baseball a chance to win.
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:
T-minus 10! That’s it. Just 10 home games left for the Buffalo Bisons in the 2008 portion of the schedule. Tonight should be a big one too, thanks to it being the final fridaynightbash! of the season. Two games against the PawSox, four versus the IronPigs and the final three taking on the Yankees. Then you can start packing up the gear for next year.
TODAY’S GAME: Tonight, the Buffalo Bisons host the Rochester Red Wings in the second game of a two-game series at Dunn Tire Park (7:05 p.m.). The Bisons fell yesterday to the Red Wings in game one of the set, 7-4. After the Red Wings series, Buffalo will host Pawtucket for two and Lehigh Valley for four. On the mound today for the Bisons is LHP Aaron Laffey. Laffey is coming off an impressive outing, throwing eight innings of shutout baseball in a Bisons 4-2 win at Lehigh Valley last Saturday. Rochester will send RHP Danny Graves to the mound.
TONIGHT’S STARTER: Aaron Laffey
-Last Game: 8/9 vLHV: (W, 8.0IP, 4H, 0R, 0ER, BB, 9K), Bisons 2-0 win.
-2008 w/ Bisons: (4-1, 2.70ERA)(7GS, 40.0IP, 35H, 13R, 12ER, 10BB, 33K).
-2008 w/ Cleveland: (5-7, 4.23)(93.2IP, 103H, 52R, 44ER, 31BB, 41K).
-2007 w/ Bisons: (9-3, 3.3.08)(16G, 96.1IP, 89H, 36R, 33ER, 23BB, 75K).
-2007 Bisons Warren Spahn Most Valuable Pitcher (Buffalo 13-3 when he pitched).
-2007 Indians Bob Feller Minor League Pitcher of the Year (13-4, 2.88ERA).
-Selected in the 16th round (468th overall) of the 2003 First-Year Player Draft.
NOT THAT FUNNY: LHP Aaron Laffey has been almost untouchable in his seven starts for the Bisons. For the Herd, Laffey has been averaging almost six innings per start, including two eight-inning performances. On the season, Laffey is 4-1 with a 2.70ERA and 33K over 40 innings in a Bisons uniform. Laffey has spent most of his season in Cleveland before returning to Buffalo on August 4. In Cleveland, Laffey started 16 games, going 5-7 with a 4.23ERA and 43K.
AHEAD OF THE CURVE: INF Jerad Head made some debut yesterday when he went 1-3 with a walk and a two-run homer over the message center in leftfield. Head is part of the most recent class of call-ups, spending most of his season playing for the Single-A Kinston Indians. At Kinston, Head played in 83 games, hitting .224 with 10 home runs and 43RBI.
FITTING RIGHT IN: In yesterday’s game, INF Andy Cannizaro extended his hitting streak to seven games and has now reached base safely in all nine games since coming to the Herd on August 4. The veteran infielder has hit .281 with a double, a home run and four RBI in a Bisons uniform. Defensively, Cannizaro ‘has made just one error in the field for Buffalo.
BISONS BITS: Yesterday INF Jordan Brown hit his team-leading 27th double of the season. Brown has now reached safely in 19 of his last 21 games, going 25-77 (.325) with eight runs, seven doubles and one home run…OF Todd Linden extended his hitting streak to six games (9-24, 4 2B, 2HR)…OF Jason Cooper played in his 397th game as a Bison yesterday. He’s three shy of C Tom Prince’s Modern Era record of 400 games.
Playing for the first time under the new extra-innings rule for Olympic competition, Cuba scored twice in the top of the 11-inning giving Cuba a tough 5-4 victory over the U.S. Friday in Beijing, China.
The Olympic Games have been just as frustrating for Bisons pitcher, Jeff Stevens. The hard throwing right hander was saddled with his second loss of the games after allowing two unearned runs during the extra frames.
The loss drops the U.S. to 1-2 after the first three days. The U.S. continues competition against Canada with first pitch set for 10:30 p.m. EDT on Friday night.
The New Rule: The rule states that the teams must place runners on first and second base with no outs, and the runners can come from any part in the lineup.
Cuba elected to place their No. 8 and No. 9 hole hitters to bring up their leadoff hitter. In the bottom half of the 11th, Team USA No. 9 hole hitter Jason Donald on second base and leadoff hitter Dexter Fowler on first.
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:
Bisons Notebook 