LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Justin Lehr, the International League's winningest pitcher at 12-3, added to the Buffalo Bisons' offensive woes Monday night.

The 32-year-old right-hander pitched eight strong innings in leading the Louisville Bats to a 5-1 victory over the Herd before 7,661 in Louisville Slugger Field.

The Bisons have not scored more than three runs in any of their last nine games.

The Bats, who lead the IL West by eight games over second-place Indianapolis, had five single-run innings, including solo home runs by Chris Valaika off loser Lance Broadway (2-6) in the fourth and Darnell McDonald off Eddie Kunz in the seventh.

Chip Ambres, who went 3 for 4 Sunday against Toledo, had two hits and drove in the Buffalo run.

Bisons manager Ken Oberkfell was ejected in the bottom of the first inning by home plate umpire David Rackley.

Meanwhile, the injury-plagued New York Mets called up outfielder Cory Sullivan from the Bisons to take the place on the roster of starting pitcher Fernando Nieve, who went on the 15-day disabled list after he tore a muscle in his right thigh Sunday in Atlanta. Sullivan's stay with the Mets could be short. New York needs a starting pitcher to take Nieve's place on Saturday at Houston, and indications are that left-hander Jonathon Niese would be recalled from Buffalo. Niese has won his last five decisions with the Bisons and posted an ERA of 0.72 in his last seven starts.

***

The International League announced Monday that Nelson Figueroa of the Bisons has been named the league's Pitcher of the Week for the period of July 16-19.

It's the second time Figueroa has been given the weekly honor by the IL, also taking it June 8-14. Figueroa pitched a scoreless inning in Wednesday night's Triple-A All-Star Game in Portland, Ore., then threw a seven-hit shutout Saturday night to cap a double-header blanking of Toledo in Coca-Cola Field.

The Bisons won that game, 2-0, as Figueroa joined Niese in pitching Buffalo's first double shutout since 2006 and first at home since 1997.

Figueroa (6-4) has won six straight decisions and his 2.32 ERA is second in the IL.