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In the opener, the Bisons erupted for a season-high five runs in the first inning but needed a fourth-inning tie-breaking run to notch a 6-5 win. In the nightcap, a 5-3 loss, reliever Jon Switzer allowed back-to-back RBI hits with two out as the Braves snapped a 3-3 tie.

The first game featured the Triple-A debut of lefthander Mike Antonini, a 23-year old who allowed eight hits and five runs in 3 1/3 innings. He was effective through the first two innings, but was hit hard his second time through the Braves lineup.

The Bisons’ early rally was keyed by two homers, a three-run shot by Fernando Martinez and a solo shot by Javier Valentin, who played last year with the Cincinnati Reds and was making his Buffalo debut.

Valentin became the first Bison to homer in his first at-bat with the club since Jason Dubois did it against Pawtucket on August 7, 2005.

The winning run came across when Wily Mo Pena lined a hard one-hopper to Gwinnett first baseman Barbaro Canizares. The fielder, however, couldn’t handle the shot and Angel Pagan was able to score from third.

“It’s been a while since I faced a pitcher,” said Valentin, who had signed a minor league deal with Washington in February but was released at the end of spring training. “I came here to do my best and help the team win some games. (It) was one of those days I won’t forget.”

“I was a good experience,” added Antonini. “I tried to get out there and do well. The third inning got to me a little bit. But we were winning the game, and that’s the important thing.”

Eddie Kunz (3-1) got the win in the opener, and Elmer Dessens worked the final two frames to earn his third save.

Antonini will be traveling with the Bisons on their road trip to Pawtucket, an indication that he will likely get at least one more start at this level.

Buffalo led in the second game by a 3-2 count after four innings, but reliever Connor Robertson allowed three straight hits with one out to enable Gwinnett to tie things up.

In the eighth, Switzer (0-2) allowed a one-out walk, which came around on a Gregor Blanco double. Blanco then scored the insurance run on a single by Diory Hernandez.

“Doubleheaders are usually tough to sweep,” Bisons manager Ken Oberkfell said. “(In the second game) no one could get that big hit, but they finally got one in the eighth inning.”

………

Any fans, media members, and team managers hoping to see a glimpse of Gwinnett pitching prospect Tommy Hanson were disappointed, as the lanky (6-foot 6) Oklahoman, scheduled to work the second game, had his start pushed back a day.

Hanson, rated by Baseball America as the fourth best prospect in the country, will instead throw Saturday at Lehigh Valley, as the original starter for that game – Kris Medlen – will instead make his major league debut for Atlanta on Tuesday.

“It was an easy decision to give him an extra day of rest,” said Braves manager Dave Brundage. “After talking with Atlanta (the parent club), they decided it was better if we could cover more innings with the bullpen on short notice in game two.”

“I’ve never seen the guy,” Oberkfell said. “It would’ve been nice to see him pitch. But I was a little happy (when he didn’t).”

Hanson, a 22-year old, has a 1-3 record but ranks 8th in the International League with a 1.99 earned run average. After tossing a no-hitter for Double-A Mississippi last season, he became the first pitcher to be named MVP in the 17-year history of the Arizona Fall League.

………

The attendance of 8,810 was bolstered by a large contingent of Boy Scouts who camped out overnight on the field. It was the Bisons’ second-largest turnout of the season, behind only the 13,178 who came for the season opener against Pawtucket on April 9.

………

Valentin, the younger brother of longtime Mets infielder Jose, was officially signed as a free agent on Thursday. The signing was part of a battery of transactions recently made by the Herd.

Catcher Rene Rivera came over from the roster of Single-A Brooklyn when the struggling Nick Evans was officially assigned to Double-A Binghamton.

Pitcher Nelson Figueroa was promoted to the Mets while Jonathon Niese was returned to Buffalo. To make room for Antonini, catcher Rafael Arroyo went to Single-A St. Lucie. Finally, infielder Jonathan Malo returned to the Bisons after an eight-game hitting streak at Binghamton, while Jose Coronado and his .141 batting average went back to the Double-A affiliate.

Another move could be imminent if the Mets decide to place first baseman Carlos Delgado on the disabled list. Delgado, who is missing the entire weekend series at San Francisco with nagging hip problems, will be re-evaluated on Monday.