Bisons Game Notes for July 19
Published on July 19, 2009 under International League (IL1)
Buffalo Bisons News Release
TODAY'S GAME: This afternoon, the Buffalo Bisons host the Toledo Mud Hens in the finale of a four-game series from Coca-Cola Field (1:05 p.m.). The Herd is looking for the series win after sweeping Saturday night's doubleheader, 1-0 and 2-0. Buffalo has now won six of their last eight games. Tomorrow, the Bisons start an eight-game roadtrip to Louisville and Indianapolis.
vs. THE HENS: The Bisons are 2-1 against Toledo this year, thanks to last night's doubleheader sweep. Buffalo won the season-series a year ago, 5-3, thanks to a series win at Fifth Third Field. The Bisons have not lost a set to the Mud Hens at Coca-Cola Field since the 2003 season (one win and four splits).
SHUTOUTS: Last night was the first time the Bisons swept a doubleheader with a pair of shutouts since June 15, 2006 in Durham with LHP Jeremy Sowers and RHP Ronald "Bear" Bay doing the honors in 3-0 and 4-0 wins. The last time Buffalo accomplished the feat at home was August 14, 1997 as the Bisons took a pair of 8-0 wins against Indianapolis.
TAKAHASHI: LHP Ken Takahashi will make his third start with the Bisons today. The 40-year old rookie had a 0.95ERA in nine relief appearances to begin his Triple-A career. In his two starts since joining the rotation on July 7, the southpaw is 0-1 with a 0.82ERA. On the Sunday before the All-Star break, Takahashi allowed just one earned run in five innings in a 3-2 defeat to Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre.
STRONG ARMS: The Bisons pitching staff has been tremendous over the last 10 days. Since July 8, Herd hurlers have posted a 1.48ERA with only 45 hits allowed in 67.0 innings of work. Buffalo has three complete games in their last eight, with the honors going to RHP Lance Broadway, LHP Jonathon Niese and RHP Nelson Figueroa.
NIESE-LY DONE: LHP Jonathon Niese tossed his second complete-game shutout last night. He becomes the 16th Bisons pitcher to have two shutouts in a single season in the Modern Era, and only the third southpaw. Jeremy Sowers was the last two do it in 2006 while lefty Bryan Clark also had a pair of shutouts during the 1986 season at War Memorial Stadium.
MEET THE METS: The New York Mets (43-47) turned to their ace to shutdown the Atlanta Braves in a 5-1 victory on Saturday. Johan Santana delivered seven scoreless innings to improve his record to 11-7 on the year. Former Bison Angel Pagan had three hits, including a triple, and Jeff Francoeur had two hits against his former team. New York looks for the split of the four-game set at 4:00 today.
ROSTER MOVE: The Bisons have activated INF Andy Green from the team's disabled list today. Green missed 68 games with a fractured left thumb. INF Luis Rivera has been transferred to St. Lucie (A).
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