EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Flying Squirrels Game Notes vs. Reading

Published on August 2, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


Richmond Flying Squirrels (55-56) vs. Reading Phillies (58-51)

Thursday, August 2nd -- 7:05 PM

The Diamond -- Richmond, VA

Game # 112 - Home Game # 54

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

LHP Mike Kickham (8-8, 2.96) vs. RHP Trevor May (8-8, 5.15)

SERIES AT A GLANCE: The Flying Squirrels will try to end their three-game losing streak and avoid a series sweep when they take on the Reading Phillies in game two of a three-game series at The Diamond tonight. Last night, Leandro Castro went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs and Tommy Joseph added three hits and an RBI in his first game against his former team as the R-Phils defeated the Flying Squirrels 7-4. The loss dropped Richmond to below the .500 mark for the first time since July 13. Joseph's RBI single in the top of the fourth inning gave Reading a 2-1 lead and the Phillies tacked on five more runs in the next three frames.

Richmond scored three times in the bottom of the seventh to reduce the deficit to 7-4, but Reading relievers Tim Kennelly and Justin Friend held the Squirrels scoreless in the final two innings. Austin Hyatt (6-3) earned the win after allowing six hits and four earned runs in six and 1/3 innings pitched. Squirrels starter Chris Heston (7-5) took the loss after giving up two earned runs in three and 2/3 innings of work. Friend picked up his 15th save. The Flying Squirrels went 5-5 against Reading in 2011 including a 2-1 mark at The Diamond. Richmond is 19-26 all-time against the R-Phils and the club is 10-8 all-time in the River City. The two teams will meet 16 times in 2012, 7 times in Reading and 9 times in Richmond. The R-Phils claimed the opening series by winning two out of three games between the clubs at The Diamond in mid-April (4/16-4/18). Reading also took two out of three from Richmond at FirstEnergy Stadium (4/24-4/26) and three out of four in Reading (6/26-6/29). Richmond swept a three-game series between the two clubs just before the 2012 All-Star break (7/7-7/9). This season series between the two teams will conclude at the end of this three-game set.

TODAY'S PITCHERS: LHP Chris Heston vs. RHP Trevor May Kickham: Makes his twenty-second start of the season for the Flying Squirrels tonight. In his last start, Kickham allowed a season-high eight hits and five earned runs along with two walks and four strikeouts in six innings pitched at Erie Friday. He took the loss in Richmond's 5-2 setback. Tonight's game will be Kickham's third career start against Reading. He is 0-1 with a 4.15 ERA against the R-Phils. He currently ranks second in the Eastern League in walks (62), third in opponents' batting average (.226) and fourth in ERA (2.96). 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 an 13-18 record with a 3.62 ERA in 45 career minor league appearances, including 42 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.

May: Makes his twenty-second start of the season for the R-Phils tonight. In his last start, May allowed four hits and two earned runs along with four walks and five strikeouts in 5.1 innings pitched against New Britain Saturday. He earned his eighth win of the season in Reading's 5-4 triumph. Tonight's game will be May's third career start against Richmond. He is 2-0 with a 0.82 ERA against the Flying Squirrels. The right-hander spent the entire 2011 campaign with Advanced-A Clearwater. In 27 starts, he went 10-8 with a 3.63 ERA. May led the Florida State League in strikeouts (208), ranked second in complete games (3), finished third in innings pitched (151.1) and eighth in ERA (3.63). May has a career record of 35-26 with a 3.91 ERA in 95 appearances, including 90 starts.

May was selected by the Phillies in fourth round of the 2008 June Draft out of Kelso (WA) HS and signed for a $375,000 bonus.

THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA: Flying Squirrels second baseman Ryan Cavan has enjoyed a successful series at the plate against Reading. Cavan went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in last night's game and he went 2-for-4 with two runs scored in Tuesday night's series opener. In 15 games against the R-Phils, Cavan is batting .383 (18-for-47). Additionally, the former UC-Santa Barbara star has hit three of his team-high 10 home runs against Reading and has collected 10 of his 35 RBIs against the R-Phils.

HERE'S JOHNNY: Flying Squirrels catcher Johnny Monell has been swinging a hot bat of late. In last night's game, Monell hit an RBI single in a pinch-hitting appearance, which was his lone plate appearance of the game. In his last four games, Monell batted .462 (6-for-13) with two doubles and four RBIs. In his last seven games, Monell batted .421 (8-for-19). Monell is now batting .391 (9-for- 23) with a home run, nine RBIs and three runs scored in ten games against Reading this season. Monell owns a .291 (14-for-48) career batting average with one home run, four doubles and eleven RBIs in 18 games against Reading (2011-12).

JOLTIN' JOSEPH: Reading catcher Tommy Joseph enjoyed a memorable night against his former club. Joseph, who batted .260 with eight home runs and 38 RBIs in 80 games with Richmond this season, went 3-for-5 with an RBI in Reading's 7-4 win.

Check out the Richmond Flying Squirrels Statistics

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Eastern League Stories from August 2, 2012


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