The Buffalo Bisons open a two-game set against Thruway rival Rochester beginning at 1:05 p. m. today (Radio 1520 AM) at Coca-Cola Field.

The series concludes at 6:05 p. m. Friday with the Bisons’ annual Independence Eve Celebration with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.

In their last series, the Bisons (26-49) were swept in four games by Charlotte and are now 17z games behind first-place Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in the International League North Division. Rochester (37-40) has dropped its last two and is 7z games behind Scranton.

The Bisons are scheduled to throw right-hander Nelson Figueroa (3-4, 2.61 ERA) against the Red Wings’ Jeff Manship (0-0, 4.50). In his last six starts Figueroa has allowed just six earned runs.

Meanwhile, Manship appears to be on a path into the Minnesota Twins’ rotation. He was promoted to Rochester last week and in his Triple-A debut, the 24-year-old got the start against Columbus and allowed three earned runs in six innings, striking out six.

The outing came on the heels of a solid performance at Double-A New Britain (Conn.), where Manship was 6-4 with a 4.28 ERA in 13 starts.

Manship came to Rochester with a 31-19 record and a 3.17 ERA during his minor league career. A starter at Notre Dame, Manship was a 14th-round draft pick of Minnesota in 2006.

After the Bisons close their home-stand against the Red Wings on Friday, they will play four games in three days in Rochester, including a day-nightdoubleheader Sunday that features separate-admission, nine-inning games at 1:05 and 7:05.