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Flying Squirrels Game Notes vs. Trenton

May 25, 2012 - Eastern League (EL) Richmond Flying Squirrels

Richmond Flying Squirrels (22-25) vs. Trenton Thunder (24-20)

Friday, May 25th -- 6:35 PM

The Diamond -- Richmond, VA

Game # 48 - Home Game # 22

Radio: Sports Radio 910 AM (6:05 PM) Internet: sportsradio910.com

RHP Craig Westcott (3-4, 4.13) vs. LHP Shaeffer Hall (4-4, 3.51)

SERIES AT A GLANCE: The Flying Squirrels will look to get back on the winning track when they take on the Trenton Thunder in the opener of a four-game series at The Diamond tonight. Last night, Richmond dropped a heartbreaker at Prince George's Stadium when Manny Machado hit a walk-off RBI single off Flying Squirrels reliever Daryl Maday (2-4) in the bottom of the ninth inning, which gave Bowie a 6-5 victory. The Flying Squirrels trailed for much of the ballgame, but they had tied the score at 5-5 in the top of the ninth on a sacrifice fly from Jose Flores, which plated Juan Perez. Flores went 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored on the night, the most hits he's had in a game all season. Daniel Mayora went 1-for-3 with a double and a season-high three RBIs for Richmond. With the loss, Richmond completed its seven-game road trip with a 2-5 mark. The Flying Squirrels went 10-5 against Trenton in 2011 including a 7-1 mark at The Diamond. Richmond is 13-8 all-time against the Thunder and the club is 9-2 all-time against Trenton at The Diamond. The two teams will meet seven times in 2012, three games in Trenton and four games in Richmond. Following this four-game series, the two teams will meet at Trenton's Waterfront Park for a three-game series June 19 through June 21.

TODAY'S PITCHERS: RHP Craig Westcott vs. LHP Shaeffer Hall Westcott: Makes his tenth start of the season for the Flying Squirrels tonight. In his last start, Westcott allowed ten hits and three earned runs along with three walks and two strikeouts at Akron Sunday. He took the loss in Richmond's 3-2 setback. Tonight's game will be his first career start against Trenton. After splitting the 2010 season between Advanced-A San Jose and Richmond, Westcott spent the entire 2011 campaign back in San Jose. Westcott enjoyed a banner year in the California League as he posted a 13-4 record with a 3.42 ERA in 25 appearances, including 24 starts. His 13 wins tied for the most in the Cal League and he finished fourth in the circuit in ERA (3.42). As a result, Westcott was named both a Mid-Season and Postseason All-Star. He was also a Mid-Season All-Star in the Cal League in 2010 after going 6-0 with a miniscule 1.83 ERA in 13 starts with San Jose before being promoted to Richmond. Westcott did not enjoy the same level of success with the Flying Squirrels however, as he compiled a 3-3 mark with a 5.13 ERA in the second half of the season. He owns a record of 32-11 with a 3.42 ERA in 74 career minor league appearances, including 66 starts. The Chalmette, LA native was selected by the Giants in the 30th round of the 2009 June Draft out of Belhaven (MS) College.

Hall: Makes his tenth start of the season tonight. In his last start, Hall allowed seven hits and three earned runs along with three strikeouts and no walks in a season-high 8.2 innings pitched at New Hampshire Sunday. He earned his fourth win of the season in Trenton's 8-3 triumph. The southpaw spent the bulk of the 2011 season with Trenton and he posted a 10-8 record with one save and a 4.12 ERA in 26 appearances, including 24 starts. He finished second in the Eastern League in hits allowed (179) and ranked fifth in the circuit in innings pitched (150.2). He earned Eastern League Pitcher-of-the-Week honors for the week of May 23 through May 31. Hall also made one start with Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre and went 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA after allowing five hits and two earned runs in 6.1 innings pitched. He has a 3-0 record and a 2.53 ERA in three career starts against the Flying Squirrels.

Hall boasts a career record of 26-19 with a 3.48 ERA and one save in 63 appearances, including 60 starts. Hall was originally selected by the Texas Rangers in the 28th round of the 2006 June Draft and he was chosen by the Cleveland Indians in the 23rd round of the 2007 June Draft, but he declined to sign both times. He was selected by the Yankees in the 25th round of the 2009 June Draft out of the University of Kansas.

HESTO PRESTO: Chris Heston has been arguably the top pitcher in the Eastern League this season, but the right-hander has taken his game to another level in May. In four May starts, Heston has amassed a 2-0 record with a 0.00 ERA. He has allowed 20 hits and just two unearned runs while racking up 23 strikeouts and yielding just four walks in 29 innings pitched. In his last two starts, Heston has allowed just one unearned run in 16 innings pitched. He currently leads the Eastern League in ERA (0.61) and opponents' batting average (.186) and ranks second in strikeouts (48) and WHIP (0.84). The former East Carolina star posted the top ERA in the Advanced-A California League (3.16) as a member of the San Jose Giants last year.

WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR YOU?: Flying Squirrels center fielder Gary Brown continues to improve at the plate. Following a 2-for-5 performance last night in Bowie, Brown raised his overall batting average to .254 for the season. In his last ten games, Brown is batting .293 (12-for-41) with two doubles, three RBIs and six runs scored. Additionally, Brown his swiped five of his 14 stolen bases during this stretch, including two steals last night. Brown ranks third in the Eastern League in stolen bases, trailing Harrisburg's Jeff Kobernus (25) and Trenton's Abraham Almonte (16).

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Eastern League Stories from May 25, 2012


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