Bisons return from All-Star break

July 14, 2011 - 5:45 PM

The Bisons begin their second half of the season in Coca-Cola FIeld tonight with a two-game homestand against the Rochester RedWings. The Herd ended the first half at 38-53 and is 15 games under .500 for the second time this season. They are 15.5 games back of International League North Division leader Lehigh Valley.

Making his first start for the Bisons at home is Miguel Batista. He joined the Herd on July 5. The Mets signed him after St. Louis released him. The 40-year old has allowed four runs in two relief outings with the Bisons. Batista has pitched in 614 major league games with 10 different clubs, including getting 11 wins for the 2001 World Series Champion Arizona Diamondbacks.

Tonight's starting lineup for Buffalo:

Luis Figueroa -- SS
Michael Fisher -- 3B
Zach Lutz -- 1B
Fernando Martinez -- RF
Valentino Pascucci -- DH
Jason Botts -- LF
Luis Hernandez -- 2B
Jesus Feliciano -- CF
Mike Nickeas --C

--- Amy Moritz

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About Inside Pitch

Mike Harrington

Mike Harrington, a Canisius College graduate who began his career as a News reporter in 1987, has covered the Buffalo Bisons since 1992 and Major League Baseball since 1995. A member of the Baseball Writers Association of America, Harrington has reported on 15 World Series -- including every pitch of the Fall Classic this century -- and all three of the Bisons' championship runs in their modern era. He is a connoisseur of the famous Stadium Mustard at Cleveland's Progressive Field.

@BNHarrington | mharrington@buffnews.com

Amy Moritz

Amy Moritz, a native of Lockport, has covered the Bisons for The Buffalo News since 2002. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism/mass communication from St. Bonaventure University and a master’s degree in humanities from the University at Buffalo. An endurance athlete, she has completed several triathlons, half marathons and marathons.

@TBN_Moritz | amoritz@buffnews.com

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