Saturday, May 28, 2011 (Game 1: 1:05 p.m.) – Coca-Cola Field
Radio: WWKB AM 1520, bisons.com

Buffalo Bisons (20-27, 5th(-9.0), North)
G1: RHP D.J. Carrasco (1-2, 4.85) vs.
G2: RHP Josh Stinson (2-4, 6.02)

Gwinnett Braves (24-21, 2nd(-1.0), South)
G1: RHP Erik Cordier (NR)
G2: LHP Yohan Flande (2-0, 4.26)

TODAY’S GAME: This afternoon, the Bisons take on the Gwinnet Braves in the first two games of a four-game series from Coca-Cola Field (G1: 1:05 p.m.). With rainouts on Thursday and Friday night, the Herd and Braves will play back-to-back doubleheaders this weekend. Buffalo is 13-13 at home this season, having split all four series they’ve played at Coca-Cola Field.

VS. THE BRAVES: Today’s games are the Bisons first contests against the Gwinnett this season. Buffalo won the season series, 5-3, last year and is 7-3 in their last 10 games against the Braves dating back to 2009. Buffalo has a win and three splits over Gwinnett in the two years of the franchise’s existence.

FOUR INTO TWO: The last time the Bisons had back-to-back doubleheaders on their schedule was August 20-21, 2009 against Syracuse. The Herd and Chiefs split each twinbill, highlighted by the shortest game in Coca-Cola Field history on August 20(2) -Bisons’ LHP KEN TAKAHASHI complete-game 2-0 win in one hour and 21 minutes. When all four games to begin the 2007 season between the Bisons and Richmond Braves were snowed out, the teams played back-to-back doubleheaders on June 9-10 at The Diamond with Richmond winning three of four over Buffalo.

HEY MR D.J.: RHP D.J. CARRASCO will be making his sixth start with the Bisons tonight. The veteran has not allowed more than three earned runs in any of his previous five outings. Carrasco is coming off a loss on May 20 in Indianapolis in a game he allowed just three runs in six innings of work. Carrasco has worked six innings in each of his past two outings.

ROSTER SHUFFLE: There was plenty of action yesterday despite no games being played. The Bisons welcomed OF LUCAS DUDA off the disabled list. The slugger missed 14 games with a mid back strain. The Mets selected the contract of RHP DALE THAYER and activated OF ANGEL PAGAN off his MLB injury rehab assignment. The Mets also announced they have optioned OF FERNANDO MARTINEZ to the Bisons with the outfielder expected to join the Herd in the next few days.

METS UPDATE: The Mets (23-27) lost to Philadelphia last night, 6-4, despite taking a 3-2 lead into the eighth inning. Former Bisons INF JUSTIN TURNER had his first career four-hit game in the majors as New York outhit the Phillies, 14-11. The Mets will host the Phillies again tonight at 7:10 p.m.

Friday’s doubleheader between the Buffalo Bisons and the Gwinnett Braves at Coca-Cola Field has been postponed due to rain. The teams will make up the games with doubleheaders on Saturday, May 28 and Sunday, May 29 at Coca-Cola Field (1:05 p.m. each day)

On both Saturday, May 28 and Sunday, May 29, the Bisons and Braves will play two, seven-inning games. Gates will open at 12:00 p.m. each day.

Fans holding tickets to Friday’s games can exchange them for a comparable ticket to any future 2011 Bisons games (excluding special events). All ticket exchanges must be made at the Coca-Cola Field box office. Please note that these exchanges do not have to be made on Friday, May 27. Fans with tickets can exchange them throughout the remainder of the 2011 season.

The New York Mets today announced that they have selected the contract of RHP DALE THAYER off the Bisons roster and activated OF ANGEL PAGAN from his MLB injury rehab assignment with the team.

The Mets also announced that OF FERNANDO MARTINEZ has been optioned to the Bisons and LHP PAT MISCH has been designated for assignment.

Martinez played in nine games with New York and hit .250 (5-20) with a home run and two RBI. He clubbed a pinch-hit home run on May 13 in Houston. The outfielder began the 2011 season with the Bisons and hit .292 (19-65) with three home runs and seven RBI in 19 games.

Misch has also split the 2011 season between Buffalo and New York. The southpaw is 0-2 with a 6.46ERA in four starts with the Bisons and 1-0 with a 10.29ERA in six relief appearances for the Mets (7.0IP, 11H, 5K).

 Because of last night’s rainout, Pagan did not appear in a game with the Bisons during his one-day stint with the team. Thayer was 2-0 with a 2.05ERA and a team-high four saves in 20 appearances for the Bisons (26.1IP, 19H, 25K).

The Buffalo Bisons today announced that OF LUCAS DUDA has been activated off the club’s disabled list. The team also announced that LHP CASEY FOSSUMhas been placed on the restricted list.

Duda has missed 14 games with a mid back strain. He was officially placed on the disabled list on May 13, retroactive to May 11. The outfielder has played 24 games with the Bisons this season with a .241 (20-83) average, three home runs and nine RBI.

Duda has also played in 10 games over two stints with the New York Mets this season. With New York, Duda has averaged .100 (2-20) with a double and one RBI.

 Fossum was 0-4 with a 6.56ERA in nine games and six starts for the Bisons (35.2IP, 46H, 24K).

Friday, May 27, 2011 (Game 1: 5:35 p.m.) – Coca-Cola Field
Radio: WWKB AM 1520, WGR Sportsradio 550 AM, bisons.com

Buffalo Bisons (20-27, 5th(-8.5), North)
G1: RHP D.J. Carrasco (1-2, 4.85)
G2: RHP Chris Schwinden (3-2, 2.36)

Gwinnett Braves (24-21, 2nd(-0.5), South)
G1: RHP Erik Cordier (NR)
G2: RHP Steven Shell (0-0, 3.00)

TODAY’S GAME: Tonight, the Bisons take on the Gwinnet Braves in the first two games of a four-game series from Coca-Cola Field (G1: 5:35 p.m.). The teams will play a pair tonight because of last night’s rainout. Buffalo is 13-13 at home this season, having split all four series they’ve played at Coca-Cola Field.

VS. THE BRAVES: Tonight’s games are the Bisons first contests against the Gwinnett this season. Buffalo won the season series, 5-3, last year and is 7-3 in their last 10 games against the Braves dating back to 2009. Buffalo has a win and three splits over Gwinnett in the two years of the franchise’s existence.

HEY MR D.J.: RHP D.J. CARRASCO will be making his sixth start with the Bisons tonight. The veteran has not allowed more than three earned runs in any of his previous five outings. Carrasco is coming off a loss on May 20 in Indianapolis in a game he allowed just three runs in six innings of work. Carrasco has worked six innings in each of his past two outings.

SCHWING AND MISS: RHP CHRIS SCHWINDEN will make his team-high ninth start of the year in game two. The righty brings a 2.36ERA into the matchup -the 5th best mark in the International League. Schwinden also leads the Bisons with three wins and 41 strikeouts. He is 1-1 with a 2.78ERA in his first four starts at Coca-Cola Field this season.

OUR PAL, VAL: OF VALENTINO PASCUCCI has 20RBI in 20 games this month. The slugger is hitting .302 (19-63) with five doubles, three home runs and six runs scored this May. Pascucci leads the Bisons with 24RBI on the season. His .408 on-base percentage is just two plate appearances shy of qualifying as the fourth-best mark in the International League.

BISONS BITS: The Bisons have played two doubleheaders this year, both against the Rochester Red Wings. The Wings won two on April 19 with the Herd sweeping a pair on April 21…The Bisons are the only team in the International League that has yet to allow a passed ball…LHP JUSTIN HAMPSON has retired the first batter he has faced in 14 of his 15 outings this season (93% success rate).

METS UPDATE: The Mets (23-25) lost to the Cubs at Wrigley Field yesterday by a 9-3 score. Former Bisons RHP R.A. DICKEY left the game after 2.2 innings of work with a heel injury. Former Bisons INF DANIEL MURPHY had three hits in the loss. The Mets will host the Phillies tonight at 7:10 p.m. at Citi Field.