IL1 Buffalo Bisons

Bisons Game Notes

April 9, 2007 - International League (IL1)
Buffalo Bisons News Release


TODAY'S GAME: This afternoon the Bisons look to finally begin their 122nd season of professional baseball in Buffalo with the first game of a four-game series with the Ottawa Lynx at Dunn Tire Park (1:05 p.m.). The Herd is coming off four straight postponements and hasn't played a game since its last exhibition game of spring on March 31 in Winter Haven, FL. To get the season going, the Bisons will turn to RHP Adam Miller. The Eastern League Pitcher of the Year in 2006 will be making just his second Triple-A start. Ottawa, who has played one game and had one postponement, will turn to RHP Matt Childers.

LET TRY WITH THE LYNX: The Bisons were scheduled to start the 2007 season against the Richmond Braves, their season-opening opponent for the last three years. But four consecutive postponements because of snow and freezing temperatures means the Herd and Braves will make up their series in Richmond from June 9-12. In 2004, Buffalo hosted the Ottawa Lynx for their Home Opener and lost, 10-5. It was their seventh game of the '04 season.

HOME OPENERS: The Bisons are 12-7 in Home Openers in their history at Dunn Tire Park (.632 winning percentage). Last season, the Herd defeated the Columbus Clippers, 10-1, on April 14 in their Home Opener.

MILLER TIME: RHP Adam Miller gets his first chance to build off an amazing 2006 campaign. The Tribe's 2003 #1 pick led the Eastern League with 15 wins last year, and was second with a 2.75ERA and third with 157K. He was named the Indians Minor League Pitcher of the Year, making him only the second 2-time winner of the award (also in 2004, Danny Graves, 95, 96).

THE 700 CLUB: Manager Torey Lovullo is back for his second season with the Bisons. The Buffalo Baseball Hall of Famer led the Herd to a 73-68 record in 2006. Lovullo has posted a winning record in each of his previous five years as a professional manager. With a career mark of 397-302 (.570 winning percentage), Lovullo will be managing his 700th game today.

MVP RETURN: Outfielder Ben Francisco returns after his Bisons Co-MVP season in 2006. Last year, Francisco led the team in games (134), runs (80, T4th in IL), hits (143, T2nd in IL), doubles (32, T5th in IL), extra-base hits (54) and stolen bases (25, T9th in IL). He also finished 2nd on the team in home runs (17) and tied for third in RBI (59).

Adam Miller

-Last Spring Outing (3/29 vRIC): (ND, 6.0IP, 6H, 4R, 3ER, 4K), Braves' 7-5.

-2007 Spring w/ Bisons: (1-0, 3.75)(2G, 12.0IP, 10H, 7R, 5ER, BB, 7K).

-2007 Spring w/CLEVELAND: (0-0, 0.00)(4G, 14.0IP, 8H, 0R, 3BB, 8K).

-2006 Eastern League Pitcher of the Year...Indians #1 Prospect by Baseball America.

-2006 w/ Akron(AA): (15-6, 2.75) (26G, 153.2IP, 129H, 56R, 47ER, 43BB, 157K).

-Led the Eastern League in wins (15), 2nd in ERA (2.75), 3rd in strikeouts (157).

-Selected in the 1st round (31st overall) of the 2003 First-Year Player Draft.

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International League Stories from April 9, 2007


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