Bisons Notes vs. Scranton/WB
June 5, 2007 - International League (IL1)
Buffalo Bisons News Release
TODAY'S GAME: Tonight, the Buffalo Bisons host the Scranton/WB Yankees in the first game of a four-game series from Dunn Tire Park (7:05 p.m.). The Herd is coming off a four-game split with the Mud Hens to begin this eight-game homestand. Tonight's match-up between the Bisons and the Yanks is the first this season. On the hill for the Bisons will be RHP Sean Smith. He last pitched on Thursday at Indianapolis (5.0IP, 9H, 8ER, 2K). Scranton/WB will go with LHP Chase Wright.
THE FRANCHISE: Ben Francisco is second in the league with his .346 batting average (just .004 behind Rochester's Jose Morales). The outfielder has hit in 16 straight games, averaging .394 (26-66) since May 18. It's the second longest streak for a Bisons hitter this season (Franklin Gutierrez, 19-games) and the 6th longest in the IL. Francisco is also 5th in the IL with 65 hits.
HOMERING HERD: Yesterday, Ben Francisco led off the game with a home run for the second time this year. He also went deep in the team's first at-bat on May 10 against Columbus. It was his fourth lead off home run of his Bisons career, accomplishing the feat twice last year (both against Scranton/WB). On the very next pitch yesterday, Luis Rivas hit his seventh homer of the season, as the Herd went back-to-back for the first time this season.
ALWAYS ON: Luis Rivas' home run was part of a four-hit game as he fell a triple short of the cycle (2R, 2RBI). The performance extended his on-base streak to 21 games (the longest streak for a Bisons player this season). Since May 11, Rivas has hit .350 (28-80) with 5HR and 10RBI. On the year, Rivas' .380 on-base percentage is 2nd on the team (Francisco, .400.)
LEADING THE PACK: First baseman Ryan Mulhern currently leads the Herd in doubles with 16 (3rd in IL), extra base hits with 25 (5th in IL) and RBI with 33 (10th in IL). He is also tied with Keith Ginter for the team lead with 8 home runs.
EVERYONE HITS: All nine starters in the Bisons lineup yesterday collected a hit. The Herd's .274 team batting average is 2nd in the International League. The team is also 2nd in runs scored (280), 3rd in home runs (52) and T3rd in stolen bases (58).
CHOO-CHOO: Buffalo outfielder Shin-Soo Choo is currently on a 10-game hit streak, the third longest of a Bisons player this season. Since May 22, he has averaged .428 (18-42). Choo has also been one of Buffalo's better designated hitters. His last 8 games have been in the DH role and on the year he is hitting .388 (14-36) with 7RBI in 9 starts at designated hitter.
Sean Smith
-Last Outing (5/31 @IND): (L, 5.0IP, 9H, 8R, 8ER, 4HR,HB, BB, 2K), Indians' 10-2 win.
-2007 w/ Bisons: (5-2, 3.66)(10G, 7GS, 46.2IP, 48H, 19R, 19ER, 21BB, 36K).
-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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