IL1 Buffalo Bisons

Bisons Game Notes

July 12, 2007 - International League (IL1)
Buffalo Bisons News Release


TODAY'S GAME: Tonight, the Buffalo Bisons open up the second half of their season with the first of a four-game series against the Durham Bulls from Durham Bulls Athletic Park (7:00 p.m.). The Herd won 12 of their last 18 before the All-Star Break to take a 2.5 game lead in the IL North division. RHP Sean Smith gets the start tonight. Smith defeated the Bulls last Thursday with seven shutout innings. Durham will counter with LHP J.P. Howell.

NORTHERN LEADERS: The Bisons have been in first place in the IL North division since May 5 (69 consecutive days). The Herd's lead peaked at 4.0 games on July 6.

FAMILIAR FOE: The Bisons and Bulls are playing their second and final series of 2007. The two teams split a four-game set, July 5-8 at Dunn Tire Park, that led into the All-Star Break. The Herd won the first two games of the series with the Bulls taking the next two. The Bisons were led by Hector Luna (.389, 7-18, 2 2B, HR, 3RBI) in their first series with Durham.

HALF WAY THERE: The Bisons enter the second half with a 49-38 record, tied for the second best mark in the IL (.563 winning pct). The team is 2nd in hitting (.268), now just three points behind Indy. They are also 4th in runs (409) and stolen bases (81) and 5th in homers (80). The Herd pitching staff is 2nd in complete games (5) and T2nd in shutouts (9).

ALL-STARS: Luis Rivas and Ryan Mulhern both played in the International League's 7-5 victory over the Pacific Coast League in last night's Triple-A All-Star Game. Rivas was robbed of an extra-base hit by a leaping grab by Las Vegas' outfielder Delwyn Young. Mulhern grounded into a doubleplay in his only at-bat. Manager Torey Lovullo was the IL's first base coach.

MEET MR. SMITH: RHP Sean Smith is coming off maybe his best outing of the season, throwing seven shutout innings a week ago against Durham (4H, 5K). In his last four starts, Smith is 2-1 with a 2.77ERA (26.0IP, 25H, 8R, 8ER, 12BB, 13K). Smith is the Bisons co-leader in wins (7, with Aaron Laffey) and leader in strikeouts (54).

ROSTER MOVES: RHP Edward Mujica is back with the Bisons today after being optioned by the Cleveland Indians. In 23 games with the Herd this year , he is 0-1 with a 5.84ERA and a team-high 11 saves (24.2IP, 25H, 16R, 16ER, 5BB, 25K).

Sean Smith

-Last Outing (7/5 vDUR): (W, 7.0IP, 4H, 0R, 3BB, 5K), Bisons' 3-0 win.

-2007 w/ Bisons: (7-5, 3.93)(16G, 13GS, 84.2IP, 86H, 38R, 37ER, 38BB, 54K).

-2007: IL Pitcher of the Week, May 14-20 (2-0, 0.79)(2G, 11.1IP, 9H, R, ER, 3BB, 11K).

-2006 with Akron: (10-5, 3.88)(25G, 144.0IP, 140H, 66R, 62ER, 45BB, 94K).

-2006 Eastern League All-Star...named to Futures Game.

-2006: Finish 5th in Indians system in wins (11) and innings pitched (169.0).

-Selected in the 16th round of the June, 2001 Draft.

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International League Stories from July 12, 2007


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