IL1 Buffalo Bisons

Bisons Game Notes

June 8, 2007 - International League (IL1)
Buffalo Bisons News Release


TODAY'S GAME: Tonight, the Buffalo Bisons host the Scranton-Wilkes Barre Yankees in the final game of a four-game series from Dunn Tire Park (7:35 p.m.). The Herd looks to take the Series from the Yanks with a win tonight. The Bisons have won the last two games of the series after dropping the opener 15-4 on Tuesday. LHP Chuck Lofgren (NR) will make his first start in a Bisons uniform tonight after being called up from Double-A Akron. Scranton/WB will counter with LHP Kei Igawa.

LOFTY EXPECTATIONS: LHP Chuck Lofgren makes his Triple-A debut tonight. The southpaw was 5-4 with a 4.03ERA in 11 games with Double-A Akron this year. In 2006, Lofgren was 17-5 with a 2.32ERA with Single-A Kinston. He was the Carolina League Pitcher of the Year as his 17 wins were tied for the most in all of minor league baseball. His 2.32ERA and 125 strikeouts were also second in the Carolina League. He entered 2007 as the #2 prospect in the Indians organization by Baseball America.

THE FRANCHISE: Ben Francisco has taken a commanding lead in the IL batting charts. The outfielder's .360 average is 27 points better than any other qualifying hitter in the league. Yesterday, Francisco extended his hit streak to 19 games, during which he has averaged .423 (33-78).That ties the Bisons mark set earlier this season by Franklin Gutierrez. Francisco is also tied for second in the league in hits (71), trailing only Toledo's Timo Perez (73).

STREAKS ENDED: Yesterday afternoon, two Bisons streaks came to an end. Luis Rivas was unable to improve upon his 23 game on-base streak (the longest streak for a Bisons player this season). Since May 11, Rivas hit .330 (31-94) with 5HR and 12RBI. Shin-Soo Choo's 11 game hit streak also came to an end. During the stretch, Choo batted .435 (20-46).

LEADERS OF THE NORTH: The Bisons have been in first place in the International League North Division since May 5 (34 days). The Herd has five more divisional wins than any other team in the North. As a team the Bisons are batting .274. That average has them in 2nd place to only Indianapolis (.288).

SLUGGER: First baseman Ryan Mulhern was a perfect 3-3 yesterday including his team-leading ninth home run. He has five extra-base hits in his last four games. Mulhern's 19 extra-base hits and .574 slugging percentage are both 2nd in the IL.

Chuck Lofgren

-Last Outing w/ Akron(AA): (6/2 vTRE): (W, 5.0IP, 6H, 3R, 1ER, 3BB, 3K),

-2007 with Akron: (5-4, 4.03) (11GS, 60.1IP, 61H, 28R, 27ER, 25BB, 65K).

-2006 w/ Kinston(A): (17-5, 2.32ERA (139IP, 108H, 36ER, 54BB, 125K).

-2006: tied for the Minor League Baseball lead with 17 wins

-2006 Carolina League Pitcher of the Year: 1st in wins (17), 2nd in ERA (2.32), K (125).

-2007: Named the Indians #2 best prospect by Baseball America

-Selected in the 4th roundby the Cleveland Indiansin the June draft.

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International League Stories from June 8, 2007


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