Inside Pitch

Even for relatively meaningless games in the standings, I know many people make the short hop down the Thruway for Bisons' games in Rochester's Frontier Field, one of the happiest place you'll find to watch a game (as long as you're not looking at the Red Wings' hideous 49-93 record!).

If you're going for tonight's 7:05 game, be advised that the gates open at 5:30 and there's a 5:45 ceremony in the Walk of Fame area down the left field line to unveil a statue in honor of Rochester legend Joe Altobelli, the former Red Wings manager and broadcaster and the man who skippered the Baltimore Orioles to the World Series title in 1983.

Longtime Altobelli friends Don Zimmer and Jim Frey will be on hand for the unveiling. So will International League president Randy Mobley. It's a great honor for a great guy, as this story in today's Rochester D&C attests. Chatting with Alto about his years in the game in the Red Wings press box over the years has been one of the many highlights of my run covering the Bisons. 

Speaking of the Red Wings, they broke their 12-game losing streak last night by beating Syracuse. It's the third time in their long history they've lost 12 straight and they broke the skid all three times against the Chiefs.

---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

The Bisons lost to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre,  9-2, on Thursday night to provide a downer of a finish to what's been a pretty entertaining year at Coca-Cola Field. The Bisons went 17-3 at one stretch in late July through mid-August but you just can't keep that up indefinitely. 

Here's what's cluttering my mind after the home finale:

Bisons' record: The Herd is 73-67 overall but just 4-11 in the last 15 games. Still, three wins in the final four games at Lehigh Valley in Rochester would provide 76 wins -- and a 20-win improvement over last year's disaster. That would be the biggest one-season jump in the modern era without an affiliation change (the team improved by 27 wins from 1994 to 1995 when it switched from Pittsburgh to Cleveland).

Kudos to the Mets for getting players in here, both free agents and better prospects. It's five straight non-playoff seasons and counting now in Buffalo but this one was a close shave. A couple fewer injuries and a couple better performances in New York and this team keeps even more players and makes a deep run.

Mets: I know they don't need a whole lot more players at this point. But it would be nice to see Jesus Feliciano and Justin Turner get a few more big-league at-bats. I'm betting Nick Evans gets another look. Will be interesting to see if they give Dillon Gee a start and perhaps take a look at former Nationals closer Chad Cordero, who has a 1.76 ERA in 16 appearances with Buffalo and seems like he's on the road back from two years of shoulder trouble.

Gee, in fact, might get that look now that I see Johan Santana came out of Thursday's game in Atlanta with a strained pectoral muscle. No need for the Mets to push him if there's any sort of issue. Why not give Gee a start?

Attendance: The Bisons finished fifth in the IL and their total ticket count for the season of 575,296 is more than 45,000 above last year with a few more dates. The average went up slightly from 8,027 to 8,219. Good to see. The team should be able to get above 600,000 if it's a division winner and gets to the playoffs.

Syracuse Chiefs: They've won five straight to take over second place in the IL North from the Bisons. Their operators must be having a good laugh at Buffalo's expense, potentially finishing ahead of the Herd in the standings both years of the teams' affiliate switches (Nationals and Mets, respectively) and raking in the dough this year with the Stephen Strasburg Show.

Rochester Dead Things, er Red Wings: They've lost 11 straight, one shy of their all-time record. They're 48-92 after tonight's 7-3 loss to Syracuse. They play two more against the Chiefs and finish against the Bisons Sunday and Monday. Oh, how the Herd must wish those games were meaningful. 

Durham Bulls: The defending Triple-A champions are a favorite to repeat for the Governors' Cup and who are two of their starting pitchers now? Bobby Livingston and Ramon Ortiz, who spent gobs of time with the Herd this year.

Chicken Wings: As I write this late Thursday evening, they're rolling out plastic covers for the outfield for this weekend's National Chicken Wing Festival. Guess baseball season in this town is over until the 2011 opener on Thursday, April 7 against Syracuse.

Out.

---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

The Bisons' last-gasp bid for the IL wildcard kicks off tonight at 5:30 with a doubleheader against North Division champion Scranton/Wilkes-Barre here at sultry Coca-Cola Field. Buffalo is four games out with seven to play. Good luck with that, especially now that heart-of-the-order man Lucas Duda has been called up to the Mets. Duda is batting seventh in left field for the Mets tonight in Atlanta.

But give the Amazins credit yet again for keeping the Bisons fully stocked. Replacing Duda on the roster is 24-year-old infielder Zach Lutz, the Mets' fifth-round pick in 2007. He was batting .289 with 17 homers and 42 RBIs in 61 games at Double-A Binghamton. Lutz, who has been battling foot problems all year as this ESPNNY.com story details, was tied with current Buffalo first baseman Nick Evans for the B-Mets' home run lead.

Jesus Feliciano continues his run for the IL batting title and is 28 plate appearances shy of qualifying. He is currently batting .339 and the qualified leader, Gwinnett's Barbaro Canizares is at .338. Feliciano is batting .384 at home.

The Yankees, meanwhile, called up closer Jonathan Albaladejo (IL-record 43 saves), IF Greg Golson and C Chad Moeller from Scranton. Top prospect Jesus Montero (.284-18-66) remains in Triple-A and is the DH in tonight's opener. 

Here's the Buffalo lineup for Game One:

Jesus Feliciano, rf
Justin Turner, ss
Russ Adams, 2b
Nick Evans, 1b
Val Pascucci, dh
Mike Cervenak, lf
Kirk Nieuwenhuis, cf
Zach Lutz, 3b
J.R. House, c
---
Raul Valdes, p

---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

Cuban lefty Aroldis Chapman, who beat the Bisons here in May, got his promotion from Louisville to Cincinnati and electrified the crowd in Great American Ballpark Tuesday night. Quite a late-inning weapon for the Reds come October.

Check out the MLB.com report and be sure to watch the accompanying video of the 102 and 103-mph fastballs!

---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

 The Durham Bulls have the International League's best record and took three of four main awards today as the IL announced its end-of-season all-star team. Durham took most valuable player (3B Dan Johnson, left), most valuable pitcher (Jeremy Hellickson) and manager of the year (Charlie Montoyo). The Bulls are the first team since the 1995 Norfolk Tides to win at least three of the honors. The fourth one, rookie of the year, went to Gwinnett first baseman Freddie Freeman, who is getting called up to the Atlanta Braves tomorrow.

Johnson, a former regular for the Oakland Athletics, has been with the Tampa Bay Rays since early August but still leads the IL in home runs (30), RBIs (95) and slugging (.624). He hit a walkoff home run for Tampa Saturday night to beat the Red Sox. Hellickson won 12 games for Durham and posted a league-leading 2.45 ERA. He then won three games for Tampa before getting reassigned to Class A to prep for a relief role akin to what David Price did in 2008.

The Bisons were shut out of the awards. Jesus Feliciano missed too much time in New York, Mike Hessman and Lucas Duda were only here for a half-season apiece and modern-era strikeout king Dillon Gee has an ERA approaching 5.00 even though he leads the league in Ks and has 13 wins. You probably could have made a case for Justin Turner at second base too even though he split time with Norfolk and Buffalo, but Louisville's Chris Valaika has been outstanding for a likely division winner.

The complete IL list:

1B: Freddie Freeman, Gwinnett
2B: Chris Valaika, Louisville
3B: Dan Johnson, Durham
SS: Eduardo Nunez, Scranton-WB
C: Jesus Montero, Scranton-WB
OF: Wladimir Balentien, Louisville; Jeff Frazier, Toledo; Jose Costanza, Columbus
DH: Barbaro Canizares, Gwinnett
Utility: Elliott Johnson, Durham
Starting pitcher: Jeremy Hellickson, Durham
Relief pitcher: Jonathan Albaledejo, Scranton-WB
---
MVP: Johnson
Pitcher of the Year: Hellickson
Rookie of the Year: Freeman
Manager of the Year: Charlie Montoyo, Durham

---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

AP Photo: Johnson watches his walkoff shot Saturday night for the Rays.

The Bisons are just about toast in the IL wild-card race after Monday night's 4-1, 10-inning loss to Syracuse in Coca-Cola Field. They're 3 1/2 games out with eight to play, meaning they're likely going to have to go at least 6-2 and maybe 7-1 -- and get help in the form of a Columbus slide -- to sneak in.

Too bad really. We haven't seen too many 17-3 runs like the one this team put together to get back in the race. But not getting a doubleheader in on Aug. 21 against a tired Pawtucket team really semed to hurt. The Herd won the opener, the nightcap was rained out and the PawSox bounced back to win two the next day as Jesus Feliciano was called up early in the morning and Justin Turner hurt his knee on the game's first play.

Turner returned last night but the loss dropped Buffalo to 3-8 in its last 11, likely a fatal slide.

---Most of the attention last night properly went to the Triple-A debut of Jenrry Mejia, the 20-year-old who is the Mets' top prospect. He was sharp, retiring the first 13 men and still hitting 96-97 mph in the seventh inning. Solid bet he starts Saturday in Wrigley Field. But lost in the Mejia talk was the great escape Syracuse pulled in the bottom of the ninth to preserve a 1-1 tie.

Not only did the Chiefs use a five-man infield with one out and runners at the corners, but right fielder Leonard Davis hung in at second base to turn the relay on a game-saving double play. Mike Cervenak's comebacker to the mound was foolishly thrown to second by pitcher Colin Balester as Lucas Duda broke for home. Davis made the out at second and Chase Lambin made a great scoop at first for the miraculous third out that prevented a Buffalo win.

---As for Mejia, manager Ken Oberkfell called him "electric." Totally agree. Wicked fastball, great change. The Chiefs couldn't touch him for the first four innings. He lost some location in the later innings but not any velocity. He's given up just one run in his last three minor-league starts over 22 innings. He's ready.

---Tomorrow is Sept. 1. What do the Mets do? Probably call up a pitcher (Raul Valdes?). What about Lucas Duda? The New York outfield is crowded and Duda, Buffalo's second-half MVP, is not on the 40-man roster. He likely stays here until the season ends and then we see next Monday about his first trip to New York. Hopefully the Mets leave the Bisons alone until the playoff race is decided.

---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

The season is over for Nationals phenom Stephen Strasburg. And so too may be the 2011 season. In a stunning announcement that was their worst fears realized, the Nats announced today that Strasburg has a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his golden right arm.  He needs surgery and the most optimistic view has him returning to the mound by next August (see you on rehab in Syracuse again). But as cautious as the franchise has been with The Franchise, you wonder if it means see you in spring training, 2012.

It's a devastating diagnosis for the Nats, who did everything they could to baby Strasburg in his climb through the minors and on to the majors. Tight pitch counts and tight innings limits couldn't prevent him from going on the disabled list twice. I guess that kind of torque on an arm simply is too much to maintain for a full major-league season.

Strasburg went 5-3 with a 2.91 ERA, collecting 92 strikeouts and walking just 17 in 68 innings. His strikeout rate per nine innings of 12.2 is tops among starters in the majors. But now everything about his career is in doubt. 

Will this crazy year -- capped by his final minor-league start in Buffalo and that electrifying 14-strikeout debut against the Pirates -- be simply a flash in the pan of one summer? Or will modern medicine bring him back, like it has with other Tommy John pitchers such as Chris Carpenter, A.J. Burnett and John Smoltz?

A major, major setback for the Nationals in their climb to respectability. On top of that, you wonder who the next team will be that will dare spend this kind of money on a high pick for a pitcher. Such a huge injury risk.

---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
Photo: Strasburg works June 3 against the Bisons (Mark Mulville/Buffalo News)

---Who's the first person the Cubs have interviewed on the road to finding a replacement for Lou Piniella? According to ESPNChicago.com, it's none other than former Bisons/Indians manager Eric Wedge. Cubs GM Jim Hendry was a coach at Creighton University when Wedge was an All-American catcher at fellow Missouri Valley Conference school Wichita State in the late 1980s, so there's a lot of history there. I know this is one job Wedge has had his eye on this summer if it appeared Ryne Sandberg was not a slam-dunk choice.

---Talked to International League president Randy Mobley today and he points out the league often uses fill-in umpires at first base and home plate and there's no rule limiting them to just third base. Mobley himself makes the call whether a substitute stays locked at third or can move, as Buffalo's Wally Bissett did Wednesday night. Bissett landed at first base and twice drew the Bisons' ire in the 8-3 loss to Pawtucket.

Said Mobley: "We have a few umpires that we have labeled in each city that have agreed to be available to us Within that group, there is varying degrees of experience. Based on that degree, I'll make a judgment whether they go into the rotation [to work the plate and other bases] with the other umpires."

I think the fill-ins should be kept at third during August pennant race games but Mobley countered he views it no different than a game in April. He wouldn't put a sub ump at first or behind the plate in August if he wouldn't do it in April. Fair enough. We can disagree on that point.

---Mobley points out the IL has had just 24 postponements this year, compared to 57 by Aug. 26 of 2009. The Bisons, in fact, just played their first doubleheader of the season on Sunday. Been a great weather year for the league.

---Memo to the Phillies: It's the end of August. You've been to the World Series two straight years but you're not going back if you lose four straight at home to the Astros. What's up with that?

---Memo to the Yankees: You're 5-7 against the Blue Jays. Might want to figure that one out before your seven meetings in September.

---Memo to everyone in the NL wild card race: Here come the Rockies again. Think 2007. Just sayin'.

---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

I've been covering Bisons game off and on for 23 years and on a full-time basis since 1992. From time to time, an umpire has a family situation, an illness, some time off coming or gets the call to the major leagues and the crew needs a substitute so there's still three men are working the game. You don't see guys promoted from Double-A. You usually get a top local amateur working for a night or two. They work third base and largely stay out of the way.

I've never seen one in the middle of things as poor Wally Bissett was Wednesday night in Coca-Cola Field.

Bissett is a highly respected, veteran umpire from Buffalo who does college ball as well as local amateur contests. But he blew two calls at first base on the tail end of double plays, one that cost the Herd a first-inning run in a game it would eventually lose in 10 innings to Pawtucket, 8-3.

Bissett got impatient with Herd manager Ken Oberkfell in the ninth and quickly tossed the Buffalo skipper after calling Pawtucket's Jeremy Hermida safe at first. He had called Herd OF Kirk Nieuwenhuis out in the first, denying the game's first run. Replays showed he blew both calls. Unless Oberkfell said the magic word, Bissett ran him way too quickly.

Oberkfell was diplomatic after the game. He was more upset with reliever Sean Green's pair of 10th-inning walks. I was always under the impression fill-ins were never supposed to work first or the plate. So was Oberkfell. So too was Buffalo General Manager Mike Buczkowski. IL president Randy Mobley can expect some phone calls from them today (he might get one from me too).

"I always thought they were just supposed to be at third but it's one of those things I guess," Oberkfell said. "I can promise I'll find out why he was at first base in a crucial game. Nothing against Wally but we're battling for a playoff spot. For me to have a substitute umpire at first base or home plate is something I don't feel should happen."

Pawtucket manager Torey Lovullo, the ex-Bison player and skipper, agreed with Oberkfell.

"You should call Randy and if you do, you have my support," Lovullo said. "We had episodes when we went into Columbus where we were embarrassed by the umpiring behind home plate that cost us in a couple of key situations. I'm not really commenting on what went on out here but I think there's a place and time for an umpire to be out at a base but they really shouldn't be at first or behind the plate."

This kind of stuff should not happen. It's Triple-A baseball. If you use fill-in umpires -- a practice I hate in the first place -- they should never be anywhere but third base. 

(It should be noted that the umpires room is off-limits to reporters so I could not speak to Bissett after the game).

---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

Some quick updates as the Bisons and Pawtucket get ready for game five of a six-game series that feel like the PawSox have been in town for a month:

---Bisons outfielder Fernando Martinez and infielder Justin Turner are both headed to New York tomorrow for MRIs on their injured knees, manager Ken Oberkfell said during his daily pregame interview with Bisons radio voice Ben Wagner. Tomorrow is Martinez Bobblehead Night in Coca-Cola Field but the man of the honor won't be on the field. 

---According to the Twitter feed of Pawtucket radio voice Dan Hoard, the Boston Red Sox reversed their field on Hideki Okajima and have him pitch on rehab here again tomorrow night rather than return to the big leagues. Just saw this note on Hoard's Twitter feed; I did not talk to PawSox manager Torey Lovullo before today's game. Okajima got hit hard Monday night, giving up four seventh-inning runs. Two came on Russ Adams' first home run off a lefty all season. 

---Carlos Delgado joined his Pawtucket teammates on the field for batting practice today, doing only stretching and running. He's apparently still a few days away from returning to game action.

---The Bisons are going with the same lineup that produced 12 runs and 15 hits last night. the only difference is that Adams and also-hot Mike Cervenak (.333 in August) are flip-flopping in the 7-8 spots in the lineup against Pawtucket righty Adam Mills, who is 0-2, 8.36 in three starts against the Bisons this season. Lefty Michael Antonini, who gave up six runs to Pawtucket on Aug. 14, makes his fourth start for the Herd.

Here's the Buffalo lineup:

Luis Hernandez, ss
Andy Green, 2b
Lucas Duda, lf
Nick Evans, 1b
Kirk Nieuwenhuis, cf
Valentino Pascucci, dh
Russ Adams, rf
Mike Cervenak, 3b
J.R. House, c
---
Michael Antonini, p

---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

The Bisons dropped the opener of their doubleheader with Pawtucket, 9-2. They also lost second baseman Justin Turner to a potentially serious knee injury on the second pitch of the game.

As a result, there a few lineup changes for the second game. Turner is out, with Russ Adams moving from right field to second base. Also out is Fernando Martinez, who looked like he could have been playing with an injury in the first game. Either that or he was serioulsy dogging it on a couple flyballs and a grounder that turned into a double play.

Andy Green, who replaced Turner at second in the first game, moves to center field.

Here's the lineup for game two:

Luis Hernandez, SS

Green, CF

Lucas Duda, LF

Nick Evans, 1B

Adams, 2B

Valentino Pascucci, RF

Mike Cervenak, 3B

J.R. House, DH

Michael Barrett, C

Adam Pettyjohn, P

---Jay Skurski

If you were hoping for a glimpse of veteran Carlos Delgado playing for Pawtucket over the next five days, it's not going to happen. PawSox manager and old friend Torey Lovullo told me today that Delgado is going on the DL after suffering back spasms Sunday against the Herd unrelated to his surgically repaired right hip. According to Lovullo, Delgado actually tweaked his left side while overcompensating for the injury.

Lovullo said Boston reliever Hideki Okajima will pitch an inning of relief in the opener of today's doubleheader (5:35 first pitch). Okajima has made 198 appearances with Boston the last three years since being signed out of Japan and has never pitched in the minor leagues. He has a 2.11 ERA in 17 postseason appearances, the most ever by a Japanese-born pitcher.

Fernando Nieve will start the opener for Buffalo and Adam Pettyjohn will start in the nightcap. The Famous Chicken is in the house as well. The Herd's Game One lineup:

Jesus Feliciano, cf
Justin Turner, 2b
Lucas Duda, lf
Nick Evans, 1b
Fernando Martinez, rf
Valentino Pascucci, dh
Mike Cervenak, 3b
Luis Hernandez, ss
Michael Barrett, C
---
Fernando Nieve, p

---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

Fernando Martinez has reported back to Buffalo and will be batting fifth tonight as the Bisons and Rochester Red Wings play their 7:35 series finale (it's on TWC 13). FMart was sent back by the Mets when they activated Rod Barajas and is taking the place of Jorge Padilla, who is expected to be out for the season after getting a ball to the face Wednesday night against the Wings while sliding into second base.

Martinez is hitting .255 with 12 homers and 33 RBIs in 68 games this year for the Bisons. Padilla was batting .313 in 48 games since being acquired in a trade from the Toronto organization.

Raul Valdes (1-1) is on the mound for Buffalo tonight. Here's a stat oddity: The Bisons are 8-0 at home on Friday nights this season and tonight is the final fridaynightbash! of the year. There's a ton of groups here and people are already sitting out in the last couple sections in right field. I'm betting we go past the 15,000 range tonight.

The Bisons enter the game stuck at three games behind Lousiville in the IL wild-card race; the Bats host Syracuse tonight with Cincinnati pitcher Aaron Harang getting the start on rehab. The Bisons are 13-3 in August, the best record in the IL. But Louisville is 13-4 and that's why the Herd has basically been stuck on neutral. 

Here's tonight's lineup:

Jesus Feliciano, cf
Justin Turner, 2b
Lucas Duda, lf
Nick Evans, 1b
Fernando Martinez, rf
Mike Cervenak, 3b
Russ Adams, dh
Luis Hernandez, ss
Michael Barrett, c
---
Raul Valdes, p

---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

Welcome back to Coca-Cola Field, where the Buffalo Bisons look to continue their playoff push in today's afternoon game with Thruway rival Rochester.

The Herd took last night's opener of this three-game series, 7-6, in nine innings. Dillon Gee set the franchise single-season strikeouts record, but didn't factor in the decision.

The Bisons got the win when Mike Cervenak singled with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. Cervenak's hit scored Justin Turner with the winning run. Turner was the offensive star of the night for the Bisons, going 3 for 4 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs. Turner is hitting .311 this season with nine homers and 39 RBIs.

The Bisons remain three games behind Louisville in the race for the International League wild card. The Bats won in ridiculous fashion last night, getting a walk-off grand slam from Triple-A rookie catcher Devin Mesoraco to defeat Syracuse, 5-3.

Here's today's starting lineup from the Herd. 

Jesus Feliciano, RF

Justin Turner, 2B

Lucas Duda, LF

Nick Evans, 1B

Kirk Nieuwenhuis, CF

Mike Cervenak, 3B

Russ Adams, DH

Luis Hernandez, SS

J.R. House, C

Michael Antonini, P

---Jay Skurski

While Bisons pitcher Dillon Gee goes for his franchise strikeout record tonight, he'll be opposing a Rochester hurler with plenty of big-league experience.

Right-hander Nick Blackburn -- who started this season 6-1 for the Minnesota Twins before crumbling in a flurry of opposing runs and hits -- will be making his fourth start since getting demoted to the Red Wings. Blackburn is 1-0 with a 1.10 ERA in his previous three Triple-A outings, but that's a far cry from his big-league work, where he was 7-7, 6.66. Opponents hit .340 against him, the highest average against any major-league starter.

Blackburn went 5-0 with a 2.65 ERA in five starts in May for Minnesota but then completely fell apart and was eventually sent to the bullpen. 

He was 1-6, 10.05 in nine starts in June and July as opposing batters hit .383 against him for a two-month stretch! He gave up 49 earned runs and 75 hits in just 43 innings. Yikes.

Blackburn, by the way, put together two of the most similar seasons you'll ever see for Minnesota in 2008 and 2009. Check out these numbers:

2008: 11-11, 4.05 ERA, 33 starts, 193.1 IP, 224 H, 87 ER, 39 BB, 96 K, .292 OBA
2009: 11-11, 4.03 ERA, 33 starts, 205.2 IP, 240 H, 92 ER, 41 BB, 98 K, .290 OBA

Freaky.

---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

The Bisons' next-to-last homestand of the season opens tonight and it's a big one, a nine-gamer over eight days that should go a long way in determining the team's playoff chances. Fans attending tonight's 7:05 game against Rochester will see Dillon Gee go for the final two strikeouts he needs to set the franchise's single-season record and for his 13th win, which would be a first for a Buffalo pitcher since 1998.

It's also a big night on the promotional front. It's Dollar Dog Night, with regular hot dogs selling for a mere buck. It's Comic Book Night, with the first 3,000 fans receiving a Baseball Heroes comic book, and it's Winning Innings Night, with a fan winning $10,000 if the Bisons complete a preselected task for that inning. And it's very plausible someone will win.

Here's the rundown of tasks. A fan will be selected to win the money if the Bisons complete it. If that happens, the contest is over (e.g., only one $10,000 prize will be awarded).

1st inning -- triple play (has happened only twice in ballpark history)
2nd inning -- back-to-back home runs
3rd inning -- three assists by the second baseman
4th inning -- team hits for the cycle
5th inning -- grand slam
6th inning -- home run off the foul pole
7th inning -- seven runs 
8th inning -- pitcher strikes out the side on 9 pitches
9th inning -- three assists by the third baseman

---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
 

The Bisons completed a 5-2 road trip with Monday's 5-3 win at Pawtucket and are off today before opening a nine-game homestand Wednesday night against Rochester. The Herd is 2 1/2 games behind Louisville in the wild-card standings with 23 to play so this race is probably going down to the last weekend of the season as Buffalo tries for its first postseason berth since 2005.

And while the team has plenty to look forward to over the next three weeks, it's already looking forward to 2011 as the schedule for next season has been announced. The IL has given teams the go-ahead to announce the schedules before this season is over so fans can get some early-early-early planning in (and probably as a way to entice some season-ticket renewals too).

The '11 schedule looks good too: There are 12 Friday night games -- with eight in either June, July or August. There are also 10 Saturdays and 11 Sundays. There are a pair of 10-game homestands (June 24-July 3 and Aug. 10-19). The home and season opener are slated for April 7 against Syracuse and the Chiefs are also the opponent for the July 3 Independence Eve celebration and the Sept. 1 home finale. The season concludes with a four-game roadie Sept. 2-5 at Lehigh Valley and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Read all about the schedule with a link to download a PDF copy by going here.

In other IL items:

---The PawSox sat out Carlos Delgado from Monday's game with the Bisons after he left Sunday's game early. He might sit all week too but the linked Providence Journal story makes it sound like he's going to try it again here this weekend (the teams open a six-game set with a doubleheader Saturday night). 

---Scranton reliever Jonathan Albaledajo, who has had a stints with the Yankees the last couple years, set the IL save record Monday night by picking up his 39th in a 7-4 win at Toledo. I'll have to ponder my votes because he might be worthy of MVP or pitcher of the year consideration in the league based on some of the callups that have shortened others' seasons.

---Syracuse had the Stephen Strasburg Show this season and will probably get a glimpse of Bryce Harper either next season or early in 2012 as the Nationals and agent Scott Boras did a Strasburg-like move, getting Harper signed to a $9.9 million deal just before the stroke of midnight. The top pick in the draft had to sign by that hour or the Nats would have lost rights to him.

---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

The big news for the Bisons Sunday was their 3-1 loss at Pawtucket in a game in which they allowed just two hits and saw outfielder Lucas Duda's hit streak end at 11 games. The big news to the Boston Red Sox, meanwhile, was an early exit from the game by veteran Carlos Delgado.

Delgado, signed to a minor-league deal in the wake of Kevin Youkilis' season-ending thumb injury, left the game due to stiffness in his back around his surgically repaired hip. He was 0 for 1 in the game. No word yet if Delgado plays in tonight's series finale. And the injury bears watching as the Torey Lovullo's PawSox hit town for a six-game, five-day series that starts with a doubleheader Saturday night at 5:30 in Coca-Cola Field.

The Bisons' nine-game homestand opens Wednesday night at 7 against Rochester.

---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

The Bisons Nick Evans has three hits on Sunday, including the game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning. Evans has six his in his first three game since joining the Bisons on Friday. Evans is batting fourth in tonight's game:

Jorge Padilla, cf
Justin Turner, 2b
Lucas Duda, lf
Nick Evans, 1b
Fernando Martinez, rf
Mike Cervenak, 3b
Ruben Tejada, ss
J.R. House, c
Dillon Gee, p

---Rodney McKissic

(www.twitter.com/rodneyjmckissic)

Somehow, the Bisons are still in the International League wild-card race (click here for the standings). But it sure doesn't feel like it. The standings say they're certainly in range, being 3 1/2 games out with 39 to play. But there are now four teams ahead of them after an 11-14 July and it's going to be very difficult to get back into contention.

Buffalo fell below .500 for the first time since Opening Day with Thursday's 11-8 loss at Columbus and the Herd is is 11-14 in July. Worse yet, the Bisons (52-53) are just 25-36 since May 23 as callups to New York and the injury to Mike Hessman have really hurt.

Louisvillle has soared to the top of the wild-card heap with a seven-game winning streak and a sizzling 20-6 mark in July. Syracuse has fallen apart with a 9-16 July and a nine-game losing streak.

The division races are just about over as Scranton/Wilkes-Barre has a seven-game lead in the North, Durham has a 14-game lead in the South and Columbus is up by 9 1/2 in the West. The Bisons play their road trip finale tonight in Columbus and then open an eight-game homestand Saturday night at 7 against Lehigh Valley.

---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

The Bisons are wearing specialized Hunter's Hope caps for tonight's game against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The caps, which will be raffled off during the game, will feature a Hunter's Hope logo on the side. Founded by Hall of Famer Jim Kelly, Hunter's Hope promotes awareness for universal and expanded newborn screening. Here is the starting lineup for tonight's game:

Justin Turner, 2b
Luis Hernandez, ss
Jorge Padilla, cf
Mike Jacobs, 1b
Fernando Martinez, rf
Mike Cervenak, 3b
Lucas Duda, lf
Russ Adams, dh
J.R. House, c
Dillon Gee, p

---Rodney McKissic

(www.twitter.com/rodneyjmckissic)

Infielder Mike Jacobs hit a pair of home runs in the Bisons' victory Wednesday at Syracuse, giving him 13 for the season. Jacobs has four homers in his last four games and nine RBIs in his last seven. He's batting fourth in tonight's starting lineup:

Justin Turner, 2b
Luis Hernandez, ss
Jorge Padilla, cf
Mike Jacobs, 1b
Fernando Martinez, rf
Mike Cervenak, 3b
Lucas Duda, lf
Russ Adams, dh
J.R. House, c
Ramon Ortiz, p

---Rodney McKissic

(www.twitter.com/rodneyjmckissic)

The Bisons, winners of three straight, face the Rochester Red Wings in the second game of a three-game series. The Herd is now 25-16 at Coca-Cola Field (.610) and following this series Buffalo travels to Syracuse for a four-game set with the rival Chiefs. Here is the starting lineup for tonight's game:

Justin Turner, 2b
Luis Hernandez, ss
Jorge Padilla, cf
Mike Jacobs, 1b
Fernando Martinez, rf
Mike Cervenak, 3b
Lucas Duda, lf
Russ Adams, dh
J.R. House, c
Pat Misch, p

---Rodney McKissic

(www.twitter.com/rodneyjmckissic)

Jason Pridie's return to the Bisons lasted one at-bat. The outfielder was placed back on the DL on Thursday, two days after re-aggravating the same right hamstring that caused him to miss 39 games this season. Pridie was evaluated by doctors in New York on Thursday and placed on the DL by the afternoon. Pridie aggravated the injury while running out a ground ball during the first inning of Tuesday's game.

In other roster moves, infielder Luis Hernandez and right-hander Manuel Alvarez were promoted from Double-A Binghamton. Hernandez, who is in the starting lineup tonight, played two games with the Herd this season and hit .298 with 19 extra-base hits in 57 games in Binghamton. Alvarez is a combined 6-1 with a 1.29 ERA and 13 saves in 27 games between Single-A St. Lucie and the B-Mets. To make room, righty Dylan Owen was sent to Binghamton.

Here is the starting lineup for tonight's game:

Justin Turner, 2b
Luis Hernandez, ss
Jorge Padilla, cf
Mike Jacobs, dh
Valentino Pascucci, 1b
Fernando Martinez, rf
Mike Cervenak, 3b
Lucas Duda, lf
J.R. House, c
Raul Valdes, p

---Rodney McKissic

(www.twitter.com/rodneyjmckissic)

Buffalo Bisons left-hander pitcher Pat Misch was named to the International League All-Star Team today. Misch, 28, has spent the entire season with the Bisons and is 7-3 with a 3.46 ERA in 15 starts. He leads all International League left-handed pitchers with seven wins (T-3rd overall) and is 4th in the IL with 96.1 innings pitched. Misch is also one of 10 International League pitchers with a complete-game shutout this season. He allowed four hits and no walks while striking out six in a 4-0 win over Norfolk on May 15.

Misch has worked six or more innings in 11 of his 15 starts this season and leads the Bisons’ staff with 10 starts. The Bisons are 11-4 when he's on the mound, the best record on the team. After starting the season with three no-decisions, Misch was 4-0 in a five-game stretch from April 25-May 20. Misch is 7-3 with a 2.78 ERA at home in Coca-Cola Field.

The Triple-A All-Star Game at 7 p.m. July 14 at Coca-Cola Park in Lehigh Valley, Pa. The game will be broadcast live on the MLB Network. WWKB 1520 AM, the flagship radio home for Bisons Baseball, will also carry the game live.

---Rodney McKissic

(www.twitter.com/rodneyjmckissic)

Catcher J.R House went 2-for-4 with two RBIs in Tuesday's win over rival Syracuse and now has 11 hits in his last 24 at-bats (.458) with three doubles, four RBI and four runs score in his last seven games. Here is the starting lineup for today's game:

Justin Turner, ss
Andy Green, 2b
Jorge Padilla, cf
Mike Jacobs, 1b
Valentino Pascucci, rf
Lucas Duda, lf
Mike Cervenak, 3b
J.R House, c
Tobi Stoner, p

---Rodney McKissic

(www.twitter.com/rodneyjmckissic)

Jason Pridie's return to the Bisons didn't last long. The outfielder was activated off the disabled list on Tuesday but was taken out of the game after one inning and one at bat. Pridie was in the starting lineup in centerfield and led the game by grounding out to second base, but was taken out of the lineup and replaced by Lucas Duda. Pridie's right hamstring was sore and manager Ken Oberkfell took him out of the game for precautionary reasons.

Pridie missed 39 games with a right hamstring sprain suffered on May 18 against Charlotte. He played three games with Single-A St. Lucia from June 25-28 and hit .400 (4-for-10) with two runs, a double and a pair of walks.

---Rodney McKissic

(www.twitter.com/rodneyjmckissic)

Outfielder Jason Pridie was activated off the disabled list on Tuesday and immediately placed in the lineup at the lead off position in center field. Pridie missed 39 games with a right hamstring sprain suffered on May 18 against Charlotte. He played three games with Single-A St. Lucia from June 25-28 and hit .400 (4-for-10) with two runs, a double and a pair of walks. To make room on the roster, the Herd sent infielder Jonathon Malo to Double-A Binghamton.

Here's the starting lineup for tonight's game:

Jason Pridie, cf
Justin Turner, ss
Jorge Padilla, lf
Mike Jacobs, 1b
Fernando Martinez, rf
Mike Cervenak, 3b
Russ Adams, 2b
J.R. House, c
Dillon Gee, p

---Rodney McKissic

(www.twitter.com/rodneyjmckissic)

Mets right-hander John Maine, on the road back from shoulder stiffness pitches tonight for the Bisons on rehab in the second game of the series against Indianapolis. He's scheduled to throw around 85 pitches and then return to New York, where the Mets will decide what to do with him. Does he go in the rotation for Hisonari Takahashi? Does he come back to Buffalo for another rehab outing?

The way the Mets' starters are throwing, there's really no spot for Maine right now. Jerry Manuel told us Wednesday night in Cleveland that putting Maine in the bullpen is not really an option. I'm betting the Mets tell Maine to make another start in Buffalo to delay their decision even more.

Interesting Buffalo lineup tonight. Andy Green bats leadoff for the second time this season and Jonathon Malo gets his first chance in center field. Fernando Martinez has a night off against Indy lefty Brian Burres. St. Francis product Jim Negrych, the hero here Thursday night, is batting third for Indy.

Be sure to catch Jerry Sullivan's column in today's paper on Negrych and Rodney McKissic's game report on the hometown boy's game-winning home run. Here's tonight's Buffalo lineup:

Andy Green, ss
Justin Turner, 2b
Mike Jacobs, 1b
Valentino Pascucci, rf
Lucas Duda, lf
Mike Cervenak, 3b
Josh Thole, c
Jonathan Malo, cf
John Maine, p

---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

The Indianapolis Indians hit town tonight to open a four-game series with St. Francis product Jim Negrych in tow and doing well (Negrych is 5 for 13 in five games with two doubles and a homer). His new team is not. Indy was swept in four straight by Scranton/Wilkes-Barre heading into this series and is seriously depleted after callups by the parent Pittsburgh Pirates. 

The Bucs, of course, are going nowhere for the 18th straight year and dropped their 10th straight game with a disgraceful six-error showing Wednesday against the White Sox. Manager John Russell and GM Neil Huntington are in trouble, with lots of talk that Russell could be gone as soon as this weekend. So in the last week, they've called up their prospects to at least show ownership and the fans there's some future to look forward to. That's all anyone has had in Pittsburgh for a long time.

Top pitching prospect Brad Lincoln and outfield prospect Jose Tabata got the call last week. And third baseman Pedro Alvarez, the No. 2 pick in the 2008 draft, made his big-league debut Wednesday night as he was told to head to Pittsburgh just before the Indy team bus pulled out of Scranton Tuesday night for the trip to Buffalo.

So the Pirates fans out there, and I know there are still a few in Buffalo, won't get to see many of the top Bucs prospects here this weekend. But they can at least cheer for the hometown guy.

---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)