NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Richmond Flying Squirrels

Flying Squirrels Game Notes: at New Britain

June 27, 2015 - Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


Richmond Flying Squirrels (SF) (38-34) vs. New Britain Rock Cats (COL) (40-34)

Saturday, June 27th -- 7:05 PM

New Britain Stadium -- New Britain, CT

Game #73 - Road Game #33

Radio: Fox Sports 910 (6:35 PM) Internet: FoxSportsRichmond.com

LHP Matt Lujan (5-5, 4.52) vs. RHP Shane Carle (8-4, 3.44)

SERIES AT A GLANCE: The Squirrels have reached the halfway point in the 142-game regular season and now embark on a seven-game road trip that starts with a familiar foe, the New Britain Rock Cats. Richmond snatched three games from New Britain in a mega five-game series at The Diamond just last weekend (6/19-6/22). This included a doubleheader on Sunday in which the Squirrels controlled and combined to take down the Rock Cats 12-2 in both contests. Richmond wraps up its time during the regular season with New Britain for 2015 in this current three-game set. The Squirrels are 3-8 against the Rock Cats after being swept twice in late April and early May. In the second meeting in New Britain (5/1-5/3), the Squirrels outhit the Rock Cats 34-26 in the three games, despite losing them all. Richmond left a season-high 13 runners on base in the second game of that series. These two clubs will each send one player to the 2015 Futures Game. Richmond's Tyler Beede (1-2, 5.01) and Eastern League's Player of the Month for April, Trevor Story, earned invitations.

A MINOR SETBACK: Richmond has lost three games in a row, which is the longest losing streak since the 15 game skid (4/15-5/3). The offense has not produced a run in the last 14 innings (two shutouts) and was outhit 30-13 in the final three games of the previous series against Trenton. After losing that series, it is now just the second series loss in their prior 15. The Squirrels began June with a league best 12-3, but with recent transactions, it is a new-look squad that is trying to find the win column again. This is a club that has outscored opponents by 37 runs in the first two innings this year. Thursday marked the most runs Richmond has given up in a first inning all season (3).

A TEST OF STAMINA: The five-game set with the Rock Cats last weekend took a beating on the Squirrels' bullpen. The relievers tossed 25.1 innings in a span of just five days and used nine different arms. There were only six earned runs absorbed from these pitchers in total. Pedro Rodriguez and Edwin Quirarte spearheaded the success by taking on unexpected roles. They were the two starters in the doubleheader sweep on Sunday. It was just Rodriguez's ninth start of his career and he delivered a season high five shutout innings and yielded two hits. Meanwhile, this was Quirarte's second career start in 318 appearances and he went three innings and only surrendered one run. The strong bullpen has carried over into the second series in this marathon homestand with Trenton. Joan Gregorio, Derek Law, and Josh Osich each threw one inning Tuesday and all of them recorded two strikeouts. In game two on Wednesday, Phil McCormick motored his way through 2.1 scoreless innings and fanned a season high five hitters. It is the fifth time this year a Richmond reliever has registered five strikeouts in an appearance. On Thursday, Joan Gregorio delivered another impressive performance after Kyle Crick's departure. Gregorio tossed a season high 3.1 scoreless innings. Richmond's bullpen only surrendered two earned runs against Trenton in four games.

THE CLIMB TO THE PEAK: The top of the mountain is close, but the momentum has slowed down a bit. The Squirrels placed themselves into a tie with the Bowie Baysox (Baltimore Orioles) for second place in the Western Division during mid-June. That marked the first time Richmond has held second place since April 15, when the team was just 3-3. The club is back in third place and has been since June 18, but they still only trail Bowie and the Altoona Curve (Pittsburgh Pirates) by 3.5 games for the division-lead. That's not too shabby when you factor in that the Squirrels had plummeted to a season-worst 11.5 games behind the Curve on May 3rd after dropping their 15th straight game and falling to 3-17. They are a league-best 35-16 since that day. However, Richmond is 8-7 in its previous 15 games after starting June 12-3.

DIFFERENT SCENERY: Outfielder Daniel Carbonell was sent down to San Jose (A+) Tuesday after a tough season with Richmond. The 24-year-old played in 56 games with the Squirrels and only managed a .146 average. The Cuban native was just 2-31 before the he received the call down to the Class Advanced A Affiliate. In 2014, Carbonell hit .344 in 21 games with San Jose. This is only the second professional season for the youngster. OF Jesus Galindo replaces Carbonell and this will be his first experience at the Double-A level.

MEAT OF THE ORDER: Devin Harris and Ricky Oropesa have been up and down through June. Harris is batting just .178 since the calendar turned, but has managed to remain at the top of the Eastern League with 22 doubles this year. The 27-year-old has not compiled a hitting-streak longer than two games in June. He also has only recorded three RBI's during a span of 13 games (6/6-6/23). However, Harris did launch two home runs in one game Wednesday night to become the first Squirrels player to accomplish that in 2015. Lastly, Oropesa has swung the hot and cold bat in June with a .321 average. This includes eight multi-hit games, which is the most on the team during this month. The first baseman has collected eight hits and posted six RBI's during the recent nine-game homestand, but is just one for his last 12 at the plate.

SQUIRRELS LEAVING THE NEST: There are plenty of fresh faces on the Richmond roster as of Friday after many players earned promotions. Kelby Tomlinson, Mac Williamson, and Josh Osich moved to Triple-A Sacramento. Tomlinson leaves as the Eastern League's leading hitter (.324). Williamson departs after a splendid performance in the middle of the order. The 24-year-old drove in 42 runs (second best on the team) for Richmond in 71 games. He also hold the Squirrels longest hitting (14 games) and on-base streaks (21 games) this season. Osich exits the RVA tied for the league lead in saves with 19. The Giants also sent down Angel Villalona to San Jose (A+) after he hit just .148 in 28 games plus some time on the Disabled List. LHP Braulio Lara, OF Hunter Cole, INF Juan Ciriaco, and OF Austin Slater are set to join Richmond. Slater and Cole are both just in their second professional seasons. Cole comes in hitting .307 along with 42 RBI's combined for Augusta (A) and San Jose (A+). Slater has spent all of his time in 2015 with San Jose (.292 average). Meanwhile Lara and Ciriaco join the Squirrels as more of a veteran presence. Lara, 26, was once with the Tampa Bay Rays organization until this past offseason and has reached as high as the Triple-A level. Ciriaco, 31, played in Richmond during 2012 and the inaugural 2010 season.

UPCOMING HOMESTAND PROMOTIONS: (7/4) Independence Day Celebration Fireworks. (7/5) Independence Day Part 2 Kids Club Fireworks. (7/6) Road to the Revolution - Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death. (7/7) Hunter Strickland American Flag Vest Bobblehead Giveaway (2,000 All Ages). (7/8) Doug E. Fresh Appearance(7/9) Fireworks/90's Game Show Night presented by Your Local Ford Dealers.

NEW BRITAIN STARTING PITCHER: Shane Carle (8-4, 3.44)

Carle will make his 15th start with the Rock Cats this year and second against the Squirrels in this current week. He took the ball for New Britain in the finale of the five-game series in Richmond on June 22 (7 IP, 10 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 3 K). The right-hander has logged seven innings in three of his last four starts and has not let up more than four earned runs in his previous 10 starts. Carle did make one start for AAA Albuquerque this season (6 IP, 9 H, 6 ER). The 23-year-old was drafted in the 10th round by the Pirates in 2013 and was traded to Colorado in November 2014. Carle did not make it past the A(Adv) level in his two seasons with the Pittsburgh organization. He played his college ball at Long Beach State and led the team in innings (93.1) and strikeouts (75) in 2013.

Check out the Richmond Flying Squirrels Statistics

• Discuss this story on the Eastern League message board...

Eastern League Stories from June 27, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Richmond Flying Squirrels Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central