EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Squirrels Throttled by Aeros in Opener, 16-3

Published on May 18, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


Akron, OH - In the first meeting between the two clubs on the season, the Akron Aeros (24-14) drubbed the Richmond Flying Squirrels (20-21), 16-3, on Friday night at Canal Park. The 13-run defeat matches the worst loss in Flying Squirrels' franchise history.

The Aeros got on the board with an unearned in the bottom of the first inning against Richmond left-hander Mike Kickham. With one out in the inning, Ben Copeland sent a come-backer to the mound. Kickham knocked it down, but then flipped it over the head of first baseman Daniel Mayora. Copeland reached on the error and promptly stole second base. Chun Chen then lined a single to left-center field to bring in Copeland for a 1-0 lead.

Chen was at it again in the third as the Aeros went ahead, 3-0. Kickham walked the lead-off man in the inning, Roberto Perez. He recorded the first two outs, but Adam Abraham delivered a single with two outs, bringing Chen back to the plate. He cracked a two-run double to left-center field, inflating the Akron lead.

Akron put the game out of reach in the fourth, plating five runs and chasing Kickham. Thomas Neal, Ryan Rohlinger and Kyle Bellows delivered back-to-back singles to start the inning, loading the bases with nobody out. Kickham then walked Perez for the second time, forcing in a run. Two more runs scored on wild-pitches in the inning, and another on a fielder's choice bounce out. Kickham was lifted in favor of right--hander Andy Reichard, who was charged with the final run in the inning. Chen drove in that run with his third hit of the night, a second RBI double into left field. Chen drove in five runs in the ballgame.

Kickham (2-4) lasted just 3 2/3 innings, enduring his fourth defeat of the year. He was tagged for seven runs - six earned - on six hits. He walked three and struck out one.

Akron starter T.J. House (2-1) earned the win over six innings, allowing just a lone run. That run came in the sixth inning for the Squirrels on an RBI double to the right-field corner from Mayora. It was one of just two hits surrendered by House during his outing. He did walk four, but struck out five.

The Aeros added insult to injury with seven runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Most of the damage was done against left-hander Ari Ronick. However, the big blow in the inning was a grand slam from Bellows that was delivered off of Richmond utility-infielder Jose Flores. Flores had been inserted to save the Richmond bullpen, and the grand slam was the first pitch he delivered. Three of the runs on the slam were charged to Ronick, who was charged with six runs in the frame.

Right-hander Loek Van Mil handled the seventh inning for the Aeros. Right-hander Toru Murata worked the final two innings and surrendered the final two runs of the night to the Squirrels. Nick Liles contributed an RBI single, while the other run scored on a Murata error.

Game two of the series is scheduled for 6:05 PM on Saturday night at Canal Park. Richmond RHP Justin Fitzgerald (3-1, 3.18) will make the start opposite Akron LHP Giovanni Soto (3-2, 4.46). Pregame coverage will begin at 5:35 PM on Sports Radio 910 and SportsRadio910.com.

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Eastern League Stories from May 18, 2012


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