The Bisons’ first-inning woes continued Wednesday afternoon in Indianapolis as the Indians plated three runs in the first inning, setting the tone for a 6-1 Herd loss.

After scoring four in the opening stanza Tuesday night in a 10-1 blowout, the I-Tribe tagged starter Casey Fossum with three on four hits in the first, including RBI singles by Alex Presley and Jason Jaramillo. During the roadtrip, Buffalo has been outscored by thier opponent 19-0 in the first inning the past six games.

On the other side, the Bisons struggled to solve Indianapolis starter Brad Lincoln, who shut out the Herd in seven innings of work, striking out seven and walking one. Lincoln scattered four hits (all singles) over separate innings. Lincoln’s record improves to 4-3.

Lincoln retired the first seven batters he faced. His record improves to 4-3.

Fossum settled in for the next three innings, but allowed a Gorkys Hernandez double before a towering left-field home run by Chase d’Arnoud.

Fossum left a leadoff single in the sixth by Matt Hague, finishing with six runs allowed on eight hits with no walks and two strikeouts after reliever Bobby Parnell allowed a Josh Harrison double that scored Hague. Fossum’s record dropped to 0-4.

Despite allowing two hits in the sixth, Parnell avoided a big inning, stranding both as he continued his rehab assignment.

Raul Chavez went 2-for-3, including a double off of reliever Cesar Valdez in the eighth.

Michael Fisher drove in Kirk Nieuwenhuis in the ninth for the Bisons’ only run, avoiding their third shutout of the season.

Pinch hitter Mike Nickeas struck out with Fisher on first for the final out against Indians reliever Tim Wood.

Game Notes: The Bisons haven’t won a series at Indianapolis since 2004, with the loss guaranteeing at best a split…Nickeas lost a five-game hit streak with the strikeout…Fisher is now has five hits in his last 11 at-bats.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011 (1:05 p.m.) – Victory Field
Radio: WWKB AM 1520, bisons.com

Buffalo Bisons (17-23, T4th(-6.5), North)
LHP Casey Fossum (0-3, 5.87)

Indianapolis Indians (16-24, 4th(-11.0), West)
RHP Brad Lincoln (3-3, 5.03)

TODAY’S GAME: This afternoon, the Bisons take on the Indianapolis Indians in the second game of a four-game series from Victory Field (1:05 p.m.). The Indians struck first in the series with last night’s 10-1 win. Buffalo is now 2-3 on their eight-game roadtrip that began with a split of a four-game set in Louisville. Following Friday’s game, the Bisons will return home for an eight-game homestand against Charlotte and Gwinnett.

VS. THE INDIANS: With last night’s 10-1 win, the Indians took the first game in the season series with the Bisons. Dating back to the end of the 2008 season, the Herd is now just 6-14 in its last 20 games against the Tribe. The last time Buffalo won a season series at Victory Field was when they took three of four over Indianapolis on June 28 – July 1, 2004.

TODAY’S STARTER: LHP CASEY FOSSUM will make his sixth start and ninth appearance for the Bisons today. The southpaw is still in search of his first win with an 0-3 record and a 5.87ERA. Fossum is looking to rebound from his shortest start of the season as he allowed nine runs in three innings on Friday night in Louisville. Fossum has been much better in his three day games this year with a 1.38ERA in 13.0 innings of work in afternoon starts.

CATCHING ON: C MIKE NICKEAS enters today’s game on a five-game hit streak. After collecting just one hit in his first six games with the team, Nickeas is hitting .353 (6-17) since May 11. The catcher has also driven in runs in back-to-back games.

DEBUT CONTINUES: INF LUIS FIGUEROA has hit in all five games he’s played as a Bison. The 37-year old was signed as a free agent on May 13 and has averaged .389 (7-18) with a pair of runs scored. Five of the hits have come in nine at-bats against left-handed pitchers (.556).

EVANS ALMIGHTY: The Mets announced last night that INF NICK EVANS will have his contract selected prior to their game against the Nationals tonight. Evans was hitting .248 (35-141) with five home runs and 16RBI in 36 games with the Herd. He has posted a team-best 14 multi-hit games in 2011.

METS UPDATE: The Mets and Marlins were postponed due to rain last night. The club announced that they will place INF DAVID WRIGHT on the disabled list with a lower back stress fracture tonight (retroactive to 5/16). Former Bisons LHP JON NIESE will start for New York tonight against the Nationals at 7:10 p.m. from Citi Field.

Indianapolis slapped the ball all-over Victory Field against the Bisons posting 10 runs in a, 10-1, trouncing of the Herd.

Indianapolis accumulated 16 hits, 11 of them against Josh Stinson who pitched 5.2 innings giving up eight runs while only striking out four.

For the third time this season Indianapolis has scored eight or more runs in a game, they did it previously against Norfolk and Louisville. The Bisons have given up eight or more runs in five games this season, three to Pawtucket, and one to each Syracuse and Rochester.

The Indians got on the board early stringing singles together for their first four runs of the game. Bisons starter Stinson gave up a leadoff single to Chase d’Arnaud in the first inning who scored on a wild pitch.

After getting Pedro Ciriaco out Stinson gave up a single to Alex Presley. He scored on John Bowker’s single into center-field. Matt Hague followed that with a single and Josh Harrison loaded the bases with a single into left-field.

Stinson appeared to get Andrew Lambo to hit into a tailor made double play. The Bisons got the first out at second but couldn’t turn two after the throw from second to first pulled Valentino Pascucci off the bag. Both Bowker and Hague scored, Hague coming all the way from second.

Indianapolis tacked on another run in the third inning after Presley doubled into right-field and Harrison singled him in.

Presley struck again leading off the fifth inning with a double down the left-field line that bounced into the corner of the bullpen. Presley scored on Bowker’s second single of the game. Bowker was eliminated on a fielder’s choice and with two runners on Dusty Brown labeled a double into center-field notching two RBI.

The top of the Indians order put up two more runs in the eighth inning after getting two leadoff singles from d’Arnaud and Ciriaco and a double down the right-field line by Bowker. He finished the game 3-for-5 with four RBI.

The Herd did manage to get on the board in the sixth inning when Indians starter Justin Wilson walked leadoff batters Luis Hernandez and Kirk Nieuwenhuis. Hernandez scored on Mike Nickeas’ sacrifice fly for the Bisons only run of the game.

Game Notes: Josh Stinson moves to, 0-3, when pitching on the road…Jesus Feliciano’s six game hitting streak came to an end…The Bisons have opened seven season-series with a loss in 2011.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011 (7:05 p.m.) – Victory Field
Radio: WWKB AM 1520, bisons.com

Buffalo Bisons (17-22, 4th(-5.5), North)
RHP Josh Stinson (1-3, 5.01)

Indianapolis Indians (15-24, 4th(-11.5), West)
LHP Justin Wilson (3-3, 2.36)

TODAY’S GAME: Tonight, the Bisons take on the Indianapolis Indians in the first game of a four-game series from Victory Field (7:05 p.m.). The Herd is coming off a four-game split against the Louisville Bats to begin this eight-game roadtrip. Today’s game features the Herd’s first non-divisional opponent other than the Bats this season.

VS. THE INDIANS: Today’s contest is the Bisons first match-up with the Indians this season. Indy won six of the eight games against the Herd in 2010. Buffalo has no season-series wins and just one split against the Indians in the last six years. However, the Bisons still hold a 28-24 edge over the Tribe at Victory Field since returning to the International League in 1998.

ROSTER MOVES: The Mets have recalled INF RUBEN TEJADA and activated RHP PEDRO BEATO off his MLB injury rehab assignment. Tejada has played in all 39 Bisons games, including starts in the first 37 contests, and hit .267 (40-150) with three home runs and a team-leading 18RBI. Beato pitched in one contest, earning the win on Sunday with 1.1 shutout innings of work.

HU’S COMING TO HERD: To make room on their roster, the Mets optioned RHP RYOTA IGARASHI and outrighted INF CHIN-LUNG HU to the Bisons. Igarashi began 2011 with Buffalo and posted a save in 3.1 shutout innings over two appearances. The righty was 2-1 with a 3.63ERA in 15 games with the Mets. Hu will be making his Bisons debut after playing in 22 games and making two starts for the Mets (1-20 at the plate).

ON THE MEND: RHP JENRRY MEJIA underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow on Tuesday. The procedure was performed by Mets Medical Director, Dr. David Altchek. New York’s top prospect felt discomfort after his final start with the Herd, April 29 in Rochester. He was placed on the disabled list on May 2. Mejia was 1-2 with a 2.86ERA in five starts this season.

HOT HITTER: OFF JESUS FELICIANO enters today’s game on a six-game hit streak over which he has averaged .292 (7-24). Feliciano has reached base safely in 11 of his last 12 games and has driven in at least one run in four straight.

METS UPDATE: After an hour and 20 minute rain delay, the Mets (19-22) lost to the Marlins last night, 2-1 in 11 innings. RHP MIKE PELFREY allowed just one run in seven innings but did not earn a decision. Former Bisons INF JUSTIN TURNER had two more hits and drove in New York’s only run. The Mets host the Marlins tonight at 7:10pm.

Monday, May 16, 2011 (11:05 a.m.) – Louisville Slugger Field
Radio: WWKB AM 1520, bisons.com

Buffalo Bisons (16-22, 4th(-6.0), North)
RHP Chris Schwinden (2-1, 2.20)

Louisville Bats (22-15, 2nd(-3.0), West)
RHP Chad Reineke (4-1, 3.11)

TODAY’S GAME: This morning, the Bisons take on the Louisville Bats in the final game of a four-game series from Louisville Slugger Field (11:05 a.m.). The Bisons need a win today to earn a split of the four-game set. Buffalo’s 4-3 win last night ended a three-game losing streak. After today’s game, the Bisons will travel to Victory Field to take on the Indianapolis Indians.

VS. THE BATS: Today is the Bisons’ final regular season match-up against the Bats. Buffalo will play all eight of their games against Louisville before facing any other non-divisional foe. Buffalo is 3-4 against the Bats and can split the season series with a win today. In the seven previous games this season, the Bats have outscored the Bisons, 42-24.

SCHWING AND MISS: RHP CHRIS SCHWINDEN ranks fifth in the International League with a 2.20ERA. The righty took a no-hitter into the sixth inning in his last start, a no-decision on Wednesday against the Yankees. He struck out six in 5.2 innings in that outing. Schwinden leads the Bisons with 31 strikeouts, five of which came in a six-inning victory over Louisville on May 6 at Coca-Cola Field.

HOT HITTER: OFF JESUS FELICIANO enters today’s game on a five-game hit streak over which he has averaged .316 (6-19). Feliciano has reached base safely in 10 of his last 11 games and has driven in at least one run in seven of his last 10. Feliciano has a hit and an RBI in each game of this series.

DEBUTS: Newcomers INF LUIS FIGUEROA and OF BUBBA BELL have already made their impact on the Bisons. Figueroa has hit in all three games he’s played in with a .556 (5-6) average and a runs scored. Bell’s two-run double in the eighth inning last night gave the Bisons the 4-3 victory. Buffalo also got 1.1 shutout innings from Mets’ RHP PEDRO BEATO for the win yesterday.

BISONS BITS: When the Bisons took the 4-3 lead in the 8th inning, it was their first lead of the series…LHP JUSTIN HAMPSON has retired the first batter he’s faced in 12 of his 13 relief appearances (92%)…Yesterday, RHP PEDRO BEATO became already the 42nd player to appear for the Bisons this season.

METS UPDATE: The Mets (19-21) earned a series win with a 7-4 victory over the Astros on Sunday. Former Bison INF JUSTIN TURNER hit his first career major league home run and drove in a career-high five runs. The Mets have now won seven of their last 10 games as they open a two-game series against Florida tonight at 7:10 p.m.