Thursday, June 9, 2011 (10:35 a.m.) – Coca-Cola Field
TV: Time Warner Cable SportsNet 13                    Radio: WWKB AM 1520, bisons.com

Buffalo Bisons (26-35, T4th(-12.0), North)
LHP Pat Misch (0-3, 6.98)

Indianapolis Indians (30-31, 3rd(-9.0), West)
RHP Sean Gallagher (1-7, 6.49)

TODAY’S GAME: This morning, the Bisons take on the Indianapolis Indians in the third game of a four-game series from Coca-Cola Field (10:35 a.m.). Today’s morning start is for the club’s annual School Kids Day. The Herd has begun this eight-game homestand with a pair of losses to the Indians. After Friday’s game, the Bisons will host the Columbus Clippers for four games.

VS. THE INDIANS: The Bisons are 1-5 against the Indians this season. Indianapolis began the season series by taking three of four at Victory Field, May 17-20. With five losses already, the Herd has officially lost the season series to the Indians. It’s Buffalo’s first losing matchup of the season, having split the first three completed season series against Louisville, Charlotte and Gwinnett.

ZIPPIDY DUDA: Since returning from the disabled list on May 28, OF LUCAS DUDA has more home runs (6) and a higher slugging percentage (.930) than any batter in the IL over that period. In the last 13 games, Duda has averaged .419 (18-43) with 10 extra-base hits and 11 runs scored. He brings a seven-game hit streak into today’s action.

DISH ON MISCH: LHP PAT MISCH is still in search of his first victory with the Bisons this season. The southpaw is 0-3 in five starts with the club in 2011. Last year, Misch had just four defeats as part of an 11-4 season that earned him Bisons Most Valuable Pitcher honors. The veteran yielded six runs in six innings in a loss at Gwinnett in his last outing on June 4.

CLASS IN SESSION: Today’s game is the Bisons annual School Kids Day with about 10,000 school kids from across Western New York in attendance. The Herd has actually already played four morning starts on the road this season. Buffalo is 2-2 in the morning, including a 5-1 win over the Indians on May 19. On last year’s School Kids Day (May 27), INF MIKE HESSMAN hit a walk off home run in the 10th inning to defeat Toledo, 8-7.

ON THE MEND: INF ZACH LUTZ went 0-4 with a walk in his second game for Single-A St. Lucie last night. He is now 0-8 with an RBI with the Mets..RHP TOBI STONER allowed just one run on four hits in six innings for Double-A Binghamton on Wednesday for a 4-1 win over Harrisburg (3BB, 4K).

METS UPDATE: The Mets (29-32) lost in walk-off fashion in Milwaukee last night, 7-6. Aided by C RONNY PAULINO’S first homer as a Met, New York scored five in the eight to take a 6-2. The Brewers answered with four in the eight and then the game-winning tally in the ninth. The Mets face the Brewers again tonight at 8:10 p.m.

The Bisons got another great start from D.J. Carrasco but failed to score a run on Wednesday night at Coca-Cola Field losing to Indianapolis, 1-0.

The Bisons gave up the only run in the game during the eighth inning, the run was unearned. After Miles Durham leadoff the inning with a double into the right-center-field gap, Chase d’Arnaud laid down a sacrifice bunt that moved Durham to third. Due to a throwing error on Michael Fisher, d’Arnaud reached first safely.

Starting the eighth in relief of Carrasco, Justin Hampson struck out the next two batters after Durham and d’Arnaud reached.

With Indians on the corners Hampson gave up a single to John Bowker scoring Durham from third. It was Bowkers first RBI of the game and fifth of the series.

“The error was misfortunate, but Fisher usually makes that play,” said manager Tim Teufel. “Physical errors do happen at times, and tonight it caught up with us.”

Bisons Starter D.J. Carrasco didn’t allow a hit to the Tribe until the sixth inning when Alex Presley hit a two-out drive down the first base line. Lucas Duda made a diving stop at first to hold Presley to a single. Carrasco didn’t get to first in time to receive a throw from Duda.

“It was the way to blow a no-hitter, it was my own fault. I wasn’t ready for it and it was totally my own fault,” Carrasco said.

Bowker followed with a clean single into center-field putting runners on the corners, Carrasco stranded both Indians.

Carrasco’s no-hit bid was helped by two great defensive plays by Luis Hernandez. In the fourth inning Hernandez made a diving play on a ground ball up the middle and threw out Andrew Lambo while sitting on the out-field grass.

“Hernandez made some great plays, there’s been a few great plays my last two outings,” Carrasco said.

In the fifth inning Hernandez got the first out of the inning on a fly ball to right-field. The ball looked like it was going to fall in but Hernandez slid underneath the ball to make the catch and preserve the no-hit bid.

Carrasco has strung together two great starts. During his last start on June 3, he pitched 8.2 innings giving up one-run, four hits and notching seven strikeouts.

“I don’t feel I’ve been any different in the last five or six starts, things are just starting to go my way,” said Carrasco.

During Wednesday night’s contest Carrasco struck out eight, while giving up two hits and no runs over seven innings of work. Before his no-hit bid was broken up he put just three runners on the base paths.

Indianapolis reliever Justin Thomas got the win striking out three while giving up three hits over two innings. Cesar Valdez closed out the g me for Indianapolis with his third save of the season. The Indians patched together the shutout win with their bullpen.

Game Notes: Lucas Duda extended his hitting streak to eight-games with a double in the first inning. Duda added a double in the fourth inning to reach nine doubles on the season…D.J. Carrasco carried a no-hit bid into the sixth inning before giving up a hit to Alex Presley on a line drive…Tribe first baseman John Bowker has driven in 10-runs against the Bisons in five games…This is the third time the Bisons have been shutout in a game.

 Wednesday, June 8, 2011 (7:05 p.m.) – Coca-Cola Field
TV: Time Warner Cable SportsNet HD 713                   
Radio: WWKB AM 1520, bisons.com

Buffalo Bisons (26-34, 4th(-11.0), North)
RHP D.J. Carrasco (2-3, 4.08)

Indianapolis Indians (29-31, 3rd(-9.0), West)
RHP Brad Lincoln (5-5, 4.34)

TODAY’S GAME: Tonight, the Bisons take on the Indianapolis Indians in the second game of a four-game series from Coca-Cola Field (7:05 p.m.). The Herd’s eight-game homestand began last night with a 13-4 loss to Indy. After this series concludes on Friday, Buffalo will welcome in the Columbus Clippers for their only visit to Coca-Cola Field this season.

VS. THE INDIANS: The Bisons are 1-4 against the Indians this season. Indianapolis began the season series by taking three of four at Victory Field, May 17-20. The Bisons have been outscored 33-13 in their five games against the Indians this year. Overall, the Herd has split the 108 games they’ve played against Indy since the clubs rejoined in the International League in 1998.

HEY MR D.J.: RHP D.J. Carrasco is coming off his best outing of the season. The veteran came one out away from a complete game last Friday in Gwinnett as the Bisons won, 3-2. Carrasco allowed just one run on four hits with seven strikeouts to the G-Braves. His 8.2 innings pitched and 111 pitches thrown are both season-highs for the Bisons. Carrasco has not allowed more than three earned runs in any of his seven starts this season.

ZIPPIDY DUDA: OF LUCAS DUDA has hit six home runs since returning from the disabled list on May 28, more than any other player in the International League over that span. In those 12 games, Duda has averaged .410 (16-39) with 13RBI, seven walks and 11 runs scored. The outfielder enters today’s game on a seven-game hit streak over which he has hit .440 (11-25).

GETTING FIGGY WITH IT: INF LUIS FIGUEROA has reached base safely in 20 of his 23 starts since joining the Herd. The veteran has hit .295 and has as many walks (10) as strikeouts (10). Overall, Figueroa has posted a .370 on-base percentage with the Herd.

BISONS BITS: INF ZACH LUTZ went 0-4 with an RBI in his first game for Single-A St. Lucie last night…INF MICHAEL FISHER has averaged .524 (11-21) with a home run and five RBI in five games against the Indians this season…The Bisons are 16-15 at home this season.

METS UPDATE: INF JOSE REYES hit a two-run triple in the seventh inning to give the Mets (29-31) a 2-1 win in Milwaukee last night. Reyes now has 11 triples on the season, five more than any other big league hitter. LHP CHRIS CAPUANO allowed one run in six innings for the win. The Mets take on the Brewers tonight at 8:10 p.m

Indianapolis did all the damage they needed in the second inning Tuesday night at Coca-Cola Field rolling to a, 13-4, win over the Bisons.

Eight of the 13 runs the Indians scored came in the second inning against starter Josh Stinson. John Bowker’s double down the right-field line got the inning started and he quickly moved to third on a ground ball from Matt Hague. Hague was safe on first due to an error by Valentino Pascucci. Andrew Lambo grounded to Pascucci who attempted to get Bowker at the plate. All runners reached safely and Bowker scored the Indians first run of the inning. Eric Fryer kept the hits coming with his second homerun of the season plating three-runs.

The second inning didn’t end there as the Tribe batted around filling the bases in the process. With one out Bowker came to the plate for the second time in the inning and hit his second double of the game clearing the bases and making it, 8-0.

“Stinson just wasn’t on today, he just didn’t have great stuff,” manager Tim Teufel said. “Our defense let him down a bit as well so just a bad day all around.

Starter Josh Stinson gave up eight earned runs to the Indians earlier this season on May 17 in a 4.2 inning start. He left Tuesdays gave after 1.1 innings and giving up eight runs, seven earned.

The Herd cut the deficit in half in the third inning after Michael Fisher singled in Luis Hernandez and Lucas Duda hit a three-run homerun. It was Duda’s ninth homerun of the season and sixth in the last 11 games. Duda moved his hitting streak to seven games while going two-for-four.

“Once you give up a big eight run inning early in the game, now you’re scrapping just trying to claw your way back in it,” said Teufel.

The Bisons bullpen kept Indianapolis off the board retiring 19 straight batters and keeping the Tribe within striking distance.

The Bisons used four relievers including Brian Sweeny, Justin Hampson, Mike O’Connor and Taylor Tankersley. Sweeny did the bulk of the work, getting the Bisons out of the second and throwing two more shut-out innings.

The Herd didn’t give up a hit until the ninth inning when Tribe relief pitcher Chris Leroux singled into left-field to start the inning against Tankersley.

Following Leroux’s single Indianapolis tacked on five runs in the ninth inning to take a, 13-4, lead. Bowker hit his third double and notched his fourth RBI of the game. The Tribe batted around the order in the second and the ninth inning.

Teufel said that the loss couldn’t be blamed on anything but the team’s inability to execute pitches, play good defense and get timely hitting.

“The way we played tonight near the end was pretty sloppy and for me it was unacceptable,” said Teufel.

Game Notes: Josh Stinson gave up seven earned runs in his start, second only to the eight he gave up against the same Indianapolis team on May 17…Lucas Duda stayed hot hitting his team leading ninth homerun in the third inning and plating three RBI to bring his total to 13 in the last11 games…The Bisons bullpen shut down the Tribe retiring 19 straight batters after relieving Sweeny in the second inning, reliever Chris Leroux ended the hitless streak with a single in the ninth.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011 (7:05 p.m.) – Coca-Cola Field
TV: Time Warner Cable SportsNet 13                   
Radio: WWKB AM 1520, bisons.com

Buffalo Bisons (26-33, 4th(-11.0), North)
RHP Josh Stinson (3-4, 5.04)

Indianapolis Indians (28-31, 3rd(-9.0), West)
LHP Justin Wilson (6-3, 3.19)

TODAY’S GAME: Tonight, the Bisons take on the Indianapolis Indians in the first game of a four-game series from Coca-Cola Field (7:05 p.m.). Today’s game starts an eight-game homestand as the Herd will also host Columbus, June 11-14. The Bisons are coming off a 3-5 roadtrip against Charlotte and Gwinnett. Buffalo lost three of four to the Braves to end the trip.

VS. THE INDIANS: The Bisons are 1-3 against the Indians this season. The Herd lost a series at Victory Field, May 17-20, where it was outscored 20-9. Buffalo has not won a series over the Indians at Coca-Cola Field since the 2004 campaign. Since then, the Herd is just 9-15 at home against the Tribe.

WIN-SON: RHP JOSH STINSON has won his last two decisions. Although he issued a season-high five walks in his last outing, June 2 at Charlotte, the righty gave up just two earned runs in six innings of a no-decision. Since May 22, Stinson is 2-0 with a 2.45ERA and three quality starts (18.1IP, 5ER). At home this season, Stinson is 3-1 with a 2.40ERA in five starts.

ON THE MEND: INF ZACH LUTZ has been transferred to Single-A St. Lucie and off the Bisons disabled list today. The infielder has been on the DL since April 22 with a right hamstring strain and a finger injury.  Prior to that, Lutz hit .308 (12-39) with five doubles, a home run and five RBI in 13 games to begin the season.

OUR PAL VAL: INF VALENTINO PASCUCCI has driven in 29 runs since May 10, or five more than any other hitter in the International League. In that 26-game span, the slugger has hit .317 with eight doubles, five home runs and 12 runs scored. On the season, Pascucci leads the Bisons with 34RBI and is second to only OF KIRK NIEUWENHUIS with a .400 on-base percentage.

BISONS BITS: Since returning from the disabled list on May 28, OF LUCAS DUDA has hit .400 (14-35) with five home runs and 10RBI in 10 games. He enters tonight on a six-game hit streak…Last night, OF KIRK NIEUWENHUIS became the seventh Bison to record two doubles in a game this year. He leads the club with 17 doubles on the season, 6th in the International League.

METS UPDATE: The Mets (28-31) were off yesterday as they begin a 10-game roadtrip tonight. New York is in Milwaukee to face the Brewers at 8:10 p.m. LHP CHRIS CAPUANO will start for the Mets tonight against RHP Shaun Marcum. New York is currently 7.5 games back of Philadelphia in the N.L. East.