Struggling Bisons’ bats looking for spark

After getting into the win column for the first time, the Buffalo Bisons will look to get back to .500 when they take on the Pawtucket Red Sox on Monday.

The Toronto Blue Jays affiliate struggled out of the gates mightily for its first series against the Rochester Red Wings. The veteran tandem struggled from the plate in its first three games finishing with a 1-2 record (Fridays game PPD).

Buffalo has only three men in the current lineup hitting over .300 currently on the season. Infielder Ryan Goins, Josh Thole and Chris Dickerson are all leading the Bisons in batting average thus far, and the Herd will look to their bats to help spark some fireworks against its division rival Monday night at Coca Cola Field.

Dickerson was the Hero for Buffalo on Sunday afternoon after he singled in Sean Ochinko to put Buffalo on the board in its 2-0 win. Dickerson reached base four times with two singles and two walks. Goins went 1-4 and was left on base three times while Thole had a rest day during the matinee matchup in Rochester.

Pawtucket will come into Buffalo with many skilled players at the plate. Through the first week of the season, the PawSox lead the International league in hits with 50 and third in team batting average (.269).

On the mound, Chad Jenkins will be getting his first start of the season on Monday after serving as a long reliever for the affiliate and the parent club last season. Jenkins bounced around in the 2014 season having 21 appearances with the Blue Jays with a 1-1 record and a 2.56 ERA. With the Herd, Jenkins posted a 1-3 record with a 4.70 ERA coming out of the pen.

Pitching for the PawSox in Monday’s matchup will be 24-year-old Matt Barnes. The righty has been in the Boston affiliation system since 2013. The formerly No. 1 prospect for the Red Sox was looking to break camp as a reliever for his parent club, but the team elected to send him down in the minors to improve as a quality starter. In 2014, Barnes had 23 appearances and put up an 8-9 record along with a 3.95 ERA. With Boston, the righty put up a 4.00 ERA in 5 appearances.

The PawSox come into town with a 3-1 record, while Buffalo is looking to keep its winning ways and get back to .500 (currently at 1-2). First pitch will be at 6:05 at Coca Cola Field.

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