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06/26/2009 10:34 PM ET
Herd Pounds Out 16 More Hits in Victory
Buffalo now has winning record in June
By Brad Bisbing / Buffalo Bisons
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With their solid 7-5 victory over the Gwinnett Braves on Friday night, the Bisons made sure to even things up on many levels.The victory gave the club a split of the first four-game series it ever played in Gwinnett. The win also gave Buffalo a 4-4 split of the season series with the Braves and evened the Herd's record over their most recent eight-game southern roadtrip at 4-4. There's just one thing that's not even, at least not anymore. The Bisons have a winning record in June at 12-11 as they enter the final series of the month, June 27-30 against the Charlotte Knights at Coca-Cola Field. The improved play has mainly been a product of the team's offensive awakening. The Herd pounded out 16 more hits against Gwinnett to match their season-high set a week ago against the Knights. Buffalo has hit .275 (213-775) in the month of June, second in the IL to only Rochester (.284). All nine Bisons in the starting line up had a hit on Friday, including pitcher Nelson Figueroa. Cory Sullivan had four of the hits and scored three runs. Javier Castillo collected three knocks, including his first career Bisons' home run. Emil Brown drove in a pair of runs with RBI-singles in the first and seventh innings. The later gave the Herd a 4-1 advantage. Buffalo then put the game out of reach in the eighth inning, compliments of their hottest hitter. Jesus Feliciano highlighted a three-run rally with a two-run double to right field. Feliciano has hit safely in 24 of his last 28 games to raise his season average to .313 - 8th best in the International League before play on Friday. The support was well appreciated by Figueroa. The veteran improved to 3-4 on the year with yet another quality start. Figueroa allowed just one run in six innings, lowering his ERA to 2.61. Eddie Kunz earned his first save of the season by retiring both batters he faced in the ninth inning. BISONS NOTES: The game took three hours and 15 minutes, matching Opening Day as the longest nine-inning game for Buffalo this year...The Bisons defeated their 2008 Pitcher of the Year, John Halama. The veteran southpaw was making his second start with Gwinnett...With two RBI, Feliciano ties Fernando Martinez for tops on the team with 28 this season. -the herd- This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.
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