Columbus is in town for a four-game series that opens at 2 this afternoon. The Clippers (Cleveland) have won three straight to improve to 5-5 in their last 10. The Bisons also are playing .500 ball over that stretch.
COLUMBUS (24-25)
Ezequiel Carrera, cf
Jason Donald, ss
Cord Phelps, 2b
Matt LaPorta, dh
Jared Goedert, lf
Chad Huffman, rf
Russ Canzler, 1b
Andy LaRoche, 3b
Matt Pagnozzi, c
******
Zach McAllister, p (3-1, 2.83)
BUFFALO (28-22)
Corey Wimberly, cf
Fred Lewis, lf
Valentino Pascucci, dh
Matt Tuiasosopo, 3b
Josh Satin, 1b
Jordany Valdespin, 2b
Lucas May, c
Dustin Martin, rf
Omar Quintanilla, ss
****
Dylan Owen, p (2-2, 3.19)
-- Bob DiCesare
It looks like pitching is going to be the focus this week in Coca-Cola Field. Bisons right-hander Chris Schwinden meets Scranton veteran Ramon Ortiz in the wrapup of the four-game series against the Yankees today. Ortiz, remember, pitched eight games for the Bisons in 2010 and was a 15-game winner for the 2002 Anaheim Angels. He was also the winner of Game Three in the 2002 World Series at San Francisco.
The Columbus Clippers hit town Monday for a 2:05 game and the teams have just finalized the pitching matchups that feature some good names. Zach McAllister, just back from Cleveland after going 1-1 in four starts, goes for the Clippers on Monday. Mets megaprospect Matt Harvey looks to move to 6-1 on Tuesday night. On Wednesday, Jenrry Mejia makes his first Triple-A start in more than a year after Tommy John surgery against David Huff, a standout for the 2008 Bisons.
On Thursday morning, in a 10:35 start on MLB Network, 6-foot-10 right-hander Chris Young will make his Buffalo debut on the road back from shoulder surgery. He was 1-0, 1.88 in four starts for the Mets last year before the injury. Young won 39 games in the big leagues from 2005-2008 with Texas and San Diego.
Here's today's lineups for the finale with Scranton, with the Bisons again batting as the visitor:
Buffalo
Corey Wimberly, cf
Fred Lewis, lf
Josh Satin, 1b
Valentino Pascucci, dh
Matt Tuiasosopo, rf
Jordany Valdespin, 2b
Lucas May, c
Michael Fisher, 3b
Omar Quintanilla, ss
---
Chris Schwinden, p
Scranton-WB
Kevin Russo, lf
Matt Antonelli, 2b
Steve Pearce, 1b
Jack Cust, dh
Brandon Laird, 3b
Colin Curtis, cf
Francisco Cervelli, c
Cole Garner, rf
Ramiro Pena, ss
---
Ramon Ortiz, p
---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
It's been a pretty entertaining three games for the Bisons and Yankees so far in Coca-Cola Field, Scranton's "home" for the weekend. The Bisons survived to win Saturday, 8-7, as closer Fernando Cabrera got out of a ninth-inning jam -- including a key strikeout of Jack Cust, Friday's walk-off hero.
Some quick numbers from the series so far:
Runs: 21-17, Buffalo
Hits: 32-29, Buffalo
RISP at bats: Buffalo 10-33, Scranton 7-25
LOB: Buffalo 23, Scranton 17
Average time: 3 hours, 15 minutes.
Nice pitching matchup Sunday as Chris Schwinden goes for the Herd against Scranton veteran Ramon Ortiz, who made eight starts for the Bisons two years ago and went 15-9 for the 2002 World Series champion Anaheim Angels.
Click here for Harry Scull Jr's photo gallery from Saturday's game, including some Dog Day at the park activities.
---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
After a 3-hour, 43-minute affair last night ended in bizarre walk-off fashion on Jack Cust's homer, the Bisons and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees are back at it again this afternoon a scant 14 hours after they finished.
The teams have split the first two games of the four-game set, which has Scranton as the home team in each game. It's quite a logjam in the IL North as Pawtucket still leads the division, Lehigh Valley is second and 1 1/2 games out, with the Bisons 2 1/2 back and Scranton 3 1/2 out. By far the toughest of the three divisions in the IL.
Largely the same lineups for both teams except that Friday night catchers Lucas May and Francisco Cervelli get the days off. Here's the rundown:
Buffalo
Corey Wimberly, cf
Fred Lewis, lf
Josh Satin, 1b
Valentino Pascucci, dh
Matt Tuiasosopo, 3b
Jordany Valdespin, 2b
Jean Luc Blaquiere, c
Dustin Martin, rf
Omar Quintanilla, ss
---
Garrett Olson, p
Scranton/WB
Kevin Russo, cf
Matt Antonelli, ss
Steve Pearce, 1b
Jack Cust, dh
Ronnier Mustelier,lf
Brandon Laird, 3b
Cole Garner, rf
Gustavo Molina, c
Ramiro Pena, 2b
----
D.J. Mitchell, p
---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
The Bisons pounded Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, 12-3, in their home opener April 11 in Coca-Cola Field and the pitching matchup for tonight's 7:05 game is the same prospect-studded one we had that afternoon: Jeurys Familia for Buffalo against Dellin Betances of Scranton.
Familia is 4-1, 4.35 and got his first Triple-A win that day with five innings and eight strikeouts. But he continues to struggle with walks and high pitch counts; he needed 87 pitches just to get through 3 2/3 innings of his last start Saturday against Indianapolis.
The 6-foot-8 Betances, a New York native who is one of the Yankees' top prospects, is 2-4, 5.24. He allowed eight runs and matched his career-high by allowing three homers in the first matchup with the Bisons.
Bisons reliever Jack Egbert has been called up to the Mets, with Pedro Beato joining the Herd bullpen on injury rehab. Here are tonight's lineups:
Buffalo
Corey Wimberly, cf
Fred Lewis, lf
Josh Satin, 1b
Valentino Pascucci, dh
Matt Tuiasosopo, 3b
Jordany Valdespin, 2b
Lucas May, c
Dustin Martin, rf
Omar Quintanilla, ss
----
Jeurys Familia, p
Scranton/WB
Kevin Russo, cf
Matt Antonelli, 2b
Steve Pearce, 3b
Jack Cust, dh
Ronnier Mustelier, lf
Brandon Laird, 1b
Francisco Cervelli, c
Cole Garner, rf
Ramiro Pena, ss
---
Dellin Betances, p
---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
Online balloting began today and runs through June 22 for the Triple-A All-Star Game on July 11 in Coca-Cola Field and the Buffalo Bisons have just released more information on ticket sales and some of the festivities surrounding the Triple-A Home Run Derby on July 9. Here's a rundown:
Tickets: The Bisons have announced that fewer than 7,000 tickets remain for the All-Star Game, meaning more than 11,000 have been sold, and fewer than 8,500 remain for the Home Run Derby. All party areas and luxury suites have also been sold for both events. The Triple-A All-Star Gala July 10 at Shea's Buffalo and the All-Star Luncheon July 11 at the Adam's Mark are both sold out.
Tickets for the game are $25 and for the Home Run Derby are $15. They can be purchased at the ballpark, at Bisons.com or by calling THE-HERD (716-843-4373). Fans can get both events for $35 and can save $5 per ticket by hosting a group outing of 20 or more people.
There are also limited spots remaining for an all-you-can-eat pavilion for the home run derby. For $30, you get a ticket to the derby and an all-you-can-eat buffet for two hours in the ballpark's pavilion area in right-center field. Fans who already have derby tickets can upgrade for $20. These spots can be ordered by calling THE-HERD (716-843-4373).
Home Run Derby: The derby will start at 7 p.m. on July 9 and it will feature three sluggers from the Pacific Coast League and three from the International League (good bet you'll see Bisons star Valentino Pascucci in it). Between rounds, a Celebrity Home Run Derby has been added with a lineup that has more spots to fill but already includes some big names. Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly will take his swings, as will current Bills running back Fred Jackson and CEO Russ Brandon, a St. John Fisher College Hall of Famer in baseball.
New England Patriots tight end and Williamsville native Rob Gronkowski is on the list, and so is Buffalo native and Hollywood writer/actor Nick Bakay. Appearances by The Famous Chicken are also on tap for the derby.
Youth initiatives: The Bisons have teamed up with Subway restaurants for a "Subway Shagger Lottery." Local youth teams can sell tickets to both the Home Run Derby and the Triple-A All-Star Game with a part of the proceeds going back into their league. For every 30 tickets sold, the team receives an entry in a lottery, with two teams being chosen to be Subway Shaggers at the Triple-A Home Run Derby.
---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
Welcome to our weekend of bizarro baseball.
The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees took batting practice first. They're listed on the bottom of the scoreboard and the Bisons are on top of the lineup card (left, click for bigger view).
Things are going to be upside down at Coca-Cola Field the next four games as the Bisons play "road" games against Scranton. So among other things, as I wrote in this morning's story, the Herd could be walkoff losers in their own park because of Scranton's stadium reconstruction that's forcing them to play the entire season on the road.
Be sure to see Friday's paper for a more in-depth look at the Scranton situation, including some comments I got from manager Dave Miley prior to batting practice today.
As for tonight's game, Mets mega prospect Matt Harvey is on the mound for Buffalo trying to improve upon his 4-1 record. Harvey is 2-0, 3.68 in four May starts, striking out 25 and walking 10 in 22 innings. Here are tonight's lineups (remember, Bisons batting first):
Buffalo
Corey Wimberly, cf
Fred Lewis, lf
Josh Satin, 1b
Valentino Pascucci, dh
Matt Tuiasosopo, 3b
Jordany Valdespin, 2b
Lucas May, c
Dustin Martin, rf
Omar Quintanilla, ss
---
Matt Harvey, p
Scranton/WB
Kevin Russo, cf
Matt Antonelli, 2b
Steve Pearce, 1b
Jack Cust, dh
Ronnier Mustelier, lf
Brandon Laird, 3b
Francisco Cervelli, c
Cole Garner, rf
Ramiro Pena, ss
---
Adam Warren, p
---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
The New York Daily News tried to hit a home run this morning and got plenty of people talking with a story that said the $2.175 billion sale of the Dodgers has the Steinbrenner family seriously thinking about a sale of the Yankees. There's talk in New York a sale of the Bronx Bombers could bring close to $3 billion, which would be a tidy profit when you consider the late George Steinbrenner bought them from CBS in 1973 for a mere $8.8 million.
(My thought: Exactly who are they figuring to pony up and spend $2.5-$3 billion? Lo and behold, the Daily News offered some suggestions too)
Managing partner Hal Steinbrenner released a statement in response to the article that reads, "I just learned of the Daily News story. It is pure fiction. The Yankees are not for sale. I expect that the Yankees will be in my family for many years to come."
That seems pretty definitive, doesn't it? We'll see.
The Boomer & Carton Show this morning on WFAN in New York had Yankees COO Lonn Trost and Daily News writer Bill Madden on to discuss the story. Naturally, they had quite different views.
Click here to listen to the Trost interview.
Click here to listen to the Madden interview
-------
Speaking of the Yankees, be sure to check out today's story on the Triple-A version's trip into town tonight. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees will be the home team the next four days while playing the Bisons in Coca-Cola Field. Look for a more in-depth feature on the odd situation in Friday's editions of The News.
---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
Chris Schwinden is back with the Herd and ready to make his schedueld start as the Buffalo Bisons close out their four-game series with the Indianapolis Indians at 1:05 today. Buffalo has lost two straight and is 1-2 agianst the Indians this season.
Schwinden's earned run average of 2.54 is the sixth-lowest in the International League. He was promoted to the New York Mets on Sunday but did not pitch, allowing him to keep his normal spot in the Bisons' starting rotation. In his last start for the Herd, a win over Gwinnett Thursday, Schwinden gave up two runs on six hits in six innings of work.
The Bisons are off on Wednesday and return to Coca-Cola Field on Thursday when Scranton/Wilkes-Barre comes to town. But the Bisons will be the away team on the scoreboard and in the batting order as Scranton is the "home" team. The Yankees are playing all their games on the road this year.
Today's Bison lineup:
Corey Wimberly -- CF
Fred Lewis -- LF
Josh Satin -- 1B
Valentino Pascucci -- RF
Matt Tuiasosopo -- 3B
Brad Emaus -- 2B
Jean Luc Blaquiere -- C
Omar Quintanilla -- SS
Chris Scwinden -- P
--- Amy Moritz
Well it's 6 p.m. and the tarp is still on field as showers pass through downtown Buffalo. There is blue sky to be seen from the stadium so hope remains that the 7:05 game between the Buffalo Bisons and Indianpolis Indians will go off as scheduled.
Bisons starter Garrett Olson will face his former team for the first time today. Olson was 4-3 with a 3.05 earned run average for the Indians last year. This year with the Herd, he is 1-3 with 3.59 ERA.
Tonight's Bison lineup:
Corey Wimberly -- CF
Fred Lewis -- LF
Josh Satin -- 1B
Valentino Pascucci -- RF
Matt Tuiasosopo -- 3B
Brad Emaus -- 2B
Lucas May -- C
Omar Quintanilla -- SS
Garrett Olson -- P
--- Amy Moritz
