Monday’s snow melted in time for the Bisons and Red Wings to complete a doubleheader at Coca-Cola Field on Tuesday. However, Buffalo’s offense just couldn’t heat up against Rochester pitching.

The Herd combined to score just one run on nine hits in the twinbill, dropping both games to their closest rivals. Rochester scored a 3-1 victory in Tuesday’s first game before shutting out the Bisons, 2-0, in the second contest.

The Bisons’ lone run on the day came courtesy of their first batter on the afternoon. Jason Pridie homered on a 1-1 pitch from Rochester starter Anthony Swarzak. From that point on, the Herd was shutout on just eight singles over the next 14 innings.

The Red Wings got all the offense they would need in the first inning of each contest. In game one, Jenrry Mejia walked the bases loaded before Rene Tosoni doubled down the left field line to score a pair.

Mejia rebounded to strike out six in 5.2 innings. The righty did allow an insurance run in the fourth inning when he threw away a pickoff attempt in-between singles by Dustin Martin and Brandon Roberts.

In game two, Rochester’s Ben Revere greeted starter Dylan Owen with a single before Bisons-killer Trevor Plouffe hit a two-run home run to left.

Owen kept the Wings off the board after that, working into the sixth inning. But without any support, the righty fell to 0-2 on the season.

Swarzak threw the complete game victory for Rochester in game one. Reliever Jeff Manship collected the game two win.

BISONS NOTES:Kirk Nieuwenhuis singled in each game to extend his hit streak to nine games. The outfielder has reached base safely in all 13 Bisons games this season…The three runs allowed by Jenrry Mejia in game one were the first runs he’s allowed this season. The righty had begun the year with 12.2 innings of shutout baseball…The Bisons have his six home runs this year with Jason Pridie having half of them.

TO SUM IT UP: The Herd combined to score just one run on nine hits in the twinbill, dropping both games to their closest rivals… Rochester scored a 3-1 victory in Tuesday’s first game before shutting out the Bisons, 2-0, in the second contest… The Bisons’ lone run on the day came courtesy of their first batter on the afternoon. Jason Pridie homered on a 1-1 pitch from Rochester starter Anthony Swarzak, from that point on, the Herd was shutout on just eight singles over the next 14 innings.

GAME 1: Mejia settles down after rocky start

GAME 2: Bisons blanked in night-cap

FAST FACTS: Kirk Nieuwenhuis singled in each game to extend his hit streak to nine games… The outfielder has reached base safely in all 13 Bisons games this season…The three runs allowed by Jenrry Mejia in game one were the first runs he’s allowed this season. The righty had begun the year with 12.2 innings of shutout baseball…The Bisons have his six home runs this year with Jason Pridie having half of them.

WHAT’S NEXT: The Bisons host the Red Wings on Wednesday at 1:05 p.m. Casey Fossum faces Twins top prospect Kyle Gibson.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011 (Game 1: 12:05 p.m.) – Coca-Cola Field
TV: MLB Network, Time Warner Cable SportsNet 13          
Radio: WWKB AM 1520, bisons.com

Buffalo Bisons (4-7, 6th(-3.0), North) vs.
RHP Jenrry Mejia (1-0, 0.00)
RHP Dylan Owen (0-1, 12.46)

Rochester Red Wings (4-6, 5th(-2.5), North)
RHP Anthony Swarzak (0-0, 3.12)
RHP Yorman Bazardo (0-1, 5.40)

TODAY’S GAME: This afternoon, the Bisons host the Rochester Red Wings in the first two games of a four-game series from Coca-Cola Field (G1: 12:05 p.m.). The teams are playing two today because last night’s series opener was postponed due to snow. Today’s games open up an eight-game homestand as the Herd will face the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, April 22-25.

VS. RED WINGS: The Bisons were 11-5 against the Red Wings last season. The 11 wins are the most the Herd posted in one season against Rochester since posting the same number during the 2001 season. Overall, Buffalo is 115-92 against their closest rivals since returning to the IL in 1998. That record includes a 59-45 mark at Coca-Cola Field.

OH JENRRY: RHP JENRRY MEJIA has thrown more scoreless innings than any other pitcher in the International League in 2011 (12.2IP). Mejia posted six shutout on April 8 against Pawtucket before going 6.2 innings without allowing a run on Wednesday in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Combined with his one start with the Bisons in 2010 on August 30 against Syracuse (8.0IP, 1R), Mejia has posted a 0.44ERA in his first three starts at the Triple-A level.

ALWAY ON: OF KIRK NIEUWENHUIS has reached base safely in all 11 games this season. The outfielder enters tonight’s contest with a seven-game hit streak, averaging .400 (10-25) since April 11. Nieuwenhuis has also drawn eight walks this season, giving him a team-high .444 on-base percentage.

HOT HITTER: INF ZACH LUTZ is right behind Nieuwenhuis with a six-game hit streak. Since April 11, the infielder has averaged .474 (9-19) with four RBI and three walks. Lutz also has five doubles in his last six games. He leads the team with six extra-base hits on the year and is tied for tops with five RBI.

ROSTER MOVE: The Bisons have placed C DUSTY RYAN on the disabled list. Ryan played three games with the Bisons during their recent roadtrip and was 2-12 at the plate. With the roster space, C SALOMON MANRIQUEZ has been promoted from Single-A Brooklyn. Manriquez began the season with the Herd and had a double in five at-bats in two games.

METS UPDATE: The Mets (5-11) were off last night and will begin a six-game homestand tonight with the first game of a three game set against Houston (7:10 p.m.). Former Bisons LHP JON NIESE will start for New York. The Mets trail first place Philadelphia by 5.5 games in the N.L. East standings.

Monday’s game between the Buffalo Bisons and the Rochester Red Wings at Coca-Cola Field has been postponed due to snow and freezing temperatures. The teams will make up the game as part of a doubleheader on Tuesday, April 19 at Coca-Cola Field (Game 1: 12:05 p.m.)

On Tuesday, April 19, the Bisons and Red Wings will play two, seven-inning games.
 
Fans holding tickets to Monday’s game 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 Monday, April 18. Fans with tickets can exchange them throughout the remainder of the 2011 season.

For more information regarding the exchange policy, fans can contact the Bisons at THE-HERD (843-4373).

Monday, April 18, 2011 (6:05 p.m.) – Coca-Cola Field
TV: Time Warner Cable SportsNet 13 
Radio: WWKB AM 1520, bisons.com

Buffalo Bisons (4-7, 6th(-3.0), North)
RHP Jenrry Mejia (1-0, 0.00)

Rochester Red Wings (4-6, 5th(-2.5), North)
RHP Anthony Swarzak (0-0, 3.12)

TODAY’S GAME: Tonight, the Bisons host the Rochester Red Wings in the first game of a four-game series from Coca-Cola Field (6:05 p.m.). This contest opens up an eight-game homestand as the Herd will face the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, April 22-25. The Bisons are coming off a 1-4 roadtrip that included a two-game sweep at the hands of the Pawtucket Red Sox.

VS. RED WINGS: The Bisons were 11-5 against the Red Wings last season. The 11 wins are the most the Herd posted in one season against Rochester since posting the same number during the 2001 season. Overall, Buffalo is 115-92 against their closest rivals since returning to the IL in 1998. That record includes a 59-45 mark at Coca-Cola Field.

OH JENRRY: RHP JENRRY MEJIA has thrown more scoreless innings than any other pitcher in the International League in 2011 (12.2IP). Mejia posted six shutout on April 8 against Pawtucket before going 6.2 innings without allowing a run on Wednesday in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Combined with his one start with the Bisons in 2010 on August 30 against Syracuse (8.0IP, 1R), Mejia has posted a 0.44ERA in his first three starts at the Triple-A level

ALWAY ON: OF KIRK NIEUWENHUIS has reached base safely in all 11 games this season. The outfielder enters tonight’s contest with a seven-game hit streak, averaging .400 (10-25) since April 11. Nieuwenhuis has also drawn eight walks this season, giving him a team-high .444 on-base percentage that is tied for the ninth highest mark in the International League.

HOT HITTER: INF ZACH LUTZ is right behind Nieuwenhuis with a six-game hit streak. Since April 11, the infielder has averaged .474 (9-19) with four RBI and three walks. Lutz also has five doubles in his last six games. He leads the team with six extra-base hits on the year and is tied for tops with five RBI.

THRUWAY CUP: Tonight’s matchup is the third game of the 2011 Thruway Series. The Bisons (1-1) and Chiefs (1-1) split the first two games of the season to get the annual series started. Syracuse won the 2010 Thruway Cup.

METS UPDATE: The Mets (5-11) snapped their seven-game losing streak with a 3-2 win in Atlanta on Sunday. Former Bisons RHP DILLON GEE was promoted to New York yesterday and allowed just one run in 5.2 innings to earn the win. The Mets are off today before opening a six-game homestand on Tuesday against Houston.