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Flying Squirrels Game Notes vs. Akron

May 18, 2012 - Eastern League (EL) Richmond Flying Squirrels

Richmond Flying Squirrels (20-20) vs. Akron Aeros (23-14)

Friday, May 18th -- 7:05 PM

Canal Park -- Akron, OH

Game # 41 - Road Game # 20

Radio: Sports Radio 910 AM (6:35 PM) Internet: sportsradio910.com

LHP Mike Kickham (2-3, 2.81) vs. LHP T. J. House (1-1, 4.76)

SERIES AT A GLANCE: The Flying Squirrels will look to make it two wins in a row when they square off against the Akron Aeros in the opener of a three-game series at Canal Park tonight. Last night, Richmond and Harrisburg took part in an epic pitchers' duel that lasted 14 innings. Joel Weeks drew a bases-loaded walk moments after Harrisburg catcher Devin Ivany was ejected for arguing with home plate umpire Joseph Born, and Richmond claimed a 1-0 walk-off win. Richmond's Brett Bochy (3-1) earned the win in relief. The contest began with outstanding starting pitching as Harrisburg ace Danny Rosenbaum and Richmond's Chris Heston matched each other pitch for pitch through the first seven frames. Rosenbaum allowed just four hits in seven scoreless innings and lowered his Eastern League-leading ERA to 0.62. Meanwhile, Heston tossed eight scoreless frames and lowered his ERA to 0.71, the second-best mark in the circuit. With the win, Richmond avoided a series sweep and evened its overall record at 20-20.

The Flying Squirrels went 5-6 against Akron in 2011 including a 3-5 mark at Canal Par. Richmond is 7-10 all-time against the Aeros and the club is 4-7 all-time at Canal Park. The two teams will meet 14 times in 2012, 6 times in Akron and 8 times in Richmond.

Following this three-game series, the Flying Squirrels and Aeros will meet again at Canal Park for a three-game series, July 1-3.

TODAY'S PITCHERS: LHP Mike Kickham vs. LHP T. J. House Kickham: Makes his eighth start of the season for the Flying Squirrels tonight. In his last start, Kickham allowed six hits and recorded four strikeouts in a season-high six scoreless innings pitched against Bowie Saturday. He earned his second win of the season in Richmond's 2-0 triumph. Tonight's game will be his first career start against Akron. Last season, Kickham went 5-10 and posted a 4.11 ERA in 21 starts with Low-A Augusta. He entered the 2012 season ranked as the #20 prospect in the Giants farm system. As a professional, Kickham owns a 7-13 record with a 3.95 ERA in 31 career minor league appearances, including 28 starts.

Kickham enjoyed a successful, albeit brief, career at Missouri State University, where he finished fifth in school history in single-season strikeouts (106) and won the team's Dave Dickensheet Pitcher-of-the-Year award in his lone season with the Bears. The St. Louis, MO native was selected by the Giants in the sixth round of the 2010 June Draft as a draft-eligible sophomore. He signed with San Francisco for a $410,000 bonus.

House: Makes his fourth start of the season for the Aeros, and his eighth overall start tonight. In his last start, House allowed seven hits and six earned runs along with two walks and seven strikeouts in five innings pitched against Harrisburg Sunday. He took the loss in Akron's 8-4 setback. House began the season with the Carolina Mudcats, Cleveland's Advanced-A affiliate in the Carolina League. He went 2-0 with a 1.44 ERA in four starts with the Mudcats prior to being promoted to Akron. The southpaw spent the 2011 season with Kinston, Cleveland's Advanced-A affiliate prior to 2012. He went 6-12 with a 5.19 ERA in 25 appearances, including 24 starts, with the K-Tribe. He tied for the Carolina League lead in walks (66) and finished t-2nd in losses (12). Tonight's start will be his first career appearance against the Flying Squirrels. In 2010, House spent the season with Kinston, where he went 6-10 with a 3.91 ERA in 27 appearances, including 26 starts. He has a career record of 21-34 with a 3.95 ERA in 85 appearances, including 83 starts. House was selected by the Indians in the 16th round of the 2008 June Draft out of Picayune (MS) High School.

PITCHING PROWESS: The Flying Squirrels received outstanding pitching throughout their last series against Harrisburg. In the three-game series with the Senators, Richmond pitchers allowed a total of five earned runs in 32 innings pitched, including a shutout in last night's 1-0 win in 14 innings. This works out to a staff ERA of 1.41 for the series. The starting pitching trio of Craig Westcott, Jason Stevenson and Chris Heston posted a combined ERA of 1.61, highlighted by eight scoreless frames from Heston in Thursday's series finale. Meanwhile, relievers Brett Bochy, Jake Dunning, Austin Fleet and Daryl Maday allowed one earned run in 9.2 innings of work over the course of the series. The bullpen went 1-0 with a 0.93 ERA in the series. Unfortunately, Harrisburg pitchers limited Richmond's offense to four runs in the three games and the Senators won the series by taking two out of the three ballgames.

OFFENSIVE WOES: The Flying Squirrels mustered just 13 hits and four runs in the series with Harrisburg, Richmond went 1-for-16 (.063) with runners in scoring position in the series. For the season Richmond is batting .245 (81-for-331) with six home runs and 104 RBIs with runners in scoring position. As a team, the Flying Squirrels are now batting .242 (315-for-1299), the second-lowest average in the Eastern League, ahead of New Britain (.237). Richmond has hit 16 home runs on the season, which ranks 10th in the Eastern League, ahead of Harrisburg (15) and Altoona (13). The Flying Squirrels rank last in the circuit in runs scored for the season (134), an average of 3.4 runs per game.

MAGNIFICENT MADAY: With 3 scoreless frames last night, Daryl Maday has now tossed 11.1 consecutive scoreless frames.

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Eastern League Stories from May 18, 2012


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