IL1 Buffalo Bisons

Buffalo Bisons Game Notes (DH 12:35p)

Published on May 6, 2017 under International League (IL1)
Buffalo Bisons News Release


Buffalo Bisons (15-9, +2.0) vs. Lehigh Valley IronPigs (14-12, -2.0)

Saturday | May 6, 2017 | 12:35 p.m. | Coca-Cola Field

LHP T.J. House (3-1, 1.64) vs. RHP Ricardo Pinto (2-2, 3.14)

LHP Brett Oberholtzer (0-1, 2.57) vs. TBA

RADIO: ESPN 1520 AM, Bisons Baseball Network | ONLINE: bisons.com, TuneIn Radio app | TV: MiLB.tv

Today's Game - Today the Buffalo Bisons open a three game series against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs with a double-dip, meeting the club for the first time. Last year the Herd posted a 7-10 mark overall and 3-4 downtown. This series closes the homestand and puts the Bisons on the road, traveling to Syracuse and Lehigh Valley the next week.

Light week of yard work - Since finishing the roadtrip on Sunday, Buffalo has played just once (Wednesday) this homestand. Rochester got the twinbill started with a 5-3 victory, while the Bisons rebounded in the nightcap, 4-1. One big inning and a great outing from Casey Lawrence helped the Herd hold onto first place in the IL North division. Buffalo scored four times in the third of game two, while the righty allowed just an unearned run over five frames for his first victory of the season.

House on the hill - TJ House sports a 1.64 ERA, which is eighth best in league. The lefty has racked up seven or more strikeouts in three straight outings and is netting 11.45 strikeouts per 9IP, a ratio that is third-best in the IL. House was dealt a 3-0 loss at Durham his last time out, fanning eight batters for a second straight start, in just 5IP.

Oberholtzer on Game 2 - The second ballgame belongs to Brett Oberholtzer who will make his fifth start of the season. Last time out he dealt with a tough loss in Durham as a three errors and two wild pitches set up a 6-3 loss. The left took three straight ND to open the season. The Bisons have scored a total of nine runs in games he's started.

Oh(L)man this place is great - Over 12 games Mike Ohlman has enjoyed playing at Coca-Cola Field, hitting .289 with two doubles, 10RBI, walloping four of five homers and 10 walks. Other hometown performers: Smith Jr. (15G .370, 3HR, 10RBI) Parmley (14G .389), Leblebijian (.349, 2HR, 9RBI) .

Not just Loping along - Christian Lopes collected base hits in both games on Wednesday night, extending a season-long hit streak to five games (5-22). With hits in 12 of the last 14 games played, his average is up 62 points.

Smith sticks on the leaderboard - Dwight Smith, Jr.'s strong play has kept him as a Top-10 hitter in the IL. Currently his average (.333) is 6th-best in the league.

The Leblebij-erboard - Jason Leblebijian's .333 ranks 10th overall and he's Top 3 in slugging (2nd .552) and OBP (3rd .439), bolstered by a team-best 15 walks.

That's not adding up - In Wednesday's double-dip the Bisons lost the game they out hit the Wings and won the contest they were out hit. Buffalo is now 12-3 in games out hitting an opponent and 2-4 when being out slugged.

This feels different - A full month into the season, the Bisons have been on top of the IL North for all 24 games this season. Last year, the Herd spent one day at the top, June 4, with a 31-25 record but lost three straight ballgames and went 35-53 the rest of the way, finishing 5th in the division -25.5 games back of the division winners.

Savoring the saves - Leonel Campos closed out Wednesday's win with a perfect seventh for his second save of the year. The save kept the pen nearly (11-12 SVO) perfect in save situations this season. Campos and Girodo are the only Bisons with multiple saves, covering the 7 different players to log saves. To this point, 11 of the 15 wins have been save situations.

We love big runs, and we cannot lie - The Bisons 4-1 win on Wednesday was the 12th time the Herd won scoring four or more runs. The lone loss, a 9-5 setback, the Bisons committed three errors in a game.

Check out the Buffalo Bisons Statistics

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International League Stories from May 6, 2017


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