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Richmond Flying Squirrels

Flying Squirrels Game Notes: at Harrisburg

July 1, 2015 - Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


Richmond Flying Squirrels (SF) (39-36)

vs.

Harrisburg Senators (WAS) (37-41)

Wednesday July 1st -- 7:00 PM

Metro Bank Park -- Harrisburg, PA

Game #76 - Road Game #36

Radio: Fox Sports 910 (6:30 PM) Internet: FoxSportsRichmond.com

RHP Pedro Rodriguez (3-3, 2.54) vs. RHP Dakota Bacus (4-1, 3.09)

Thursday, July 2nd @HAR 7:00 PM LHP Kelvin Marte (6-1, 2.73) vs. RHP Austin Voth (3-5, 3.69) Fox Sports 910/FoxSportsRichmond.com

Friday, July 3rd @HAR 7:00 PM LHP Matt Lujan (5-5, 4.32) vs. RHP Colin Bates (3-0, 3.44) Fox Sports 910/FoxSportsRichmond.com

Saturday, July 4th AKR 6:05 PM TBA vs. TBA Fox Sports 910/FoxSportsRichmond.com

SERIES AT A GLANCE: The Squirrels continue to produce silent offense after a 2-0 loss in the opener of this four-game series against the Senators. The lineup has recorded just one run in 38 of their previous 39 innings. Tuesday was the fourth shutout loss for Richmond in its last five games. The Squirrels managed to outhit Harrisburg 8-6, but only had four chances with runners in scoring position. Tyler Beede threw seven impressive innings for the Squirrels, which normally would place the club on victory lane. It marked the first time this season Richmond lost a game in which their starter lasted seven innings (8-1 record). These two clubs collide for a four-game series and both are playing an entirely different brand of baseball. Richmond has experienced defeat in five of its previous six contests. Meanwhile, Harrisburg has found the win column in its last seven games, which is the longest winning streak compiled this year for this squad. The Squirrels have the edge in this matchup as a whole. Richmond is 5-2 against this Western Division foe in 2015 and this includes two shutout victories. The 12-0 shutout win for the Squirrels on May 27 featured an eight run inning with a franchise record eight hits during that frame. The Senators have produced just a .195 batting average during the seven games against Richmond. The bullpen for the Squirrels has found success so far against the Senators with 25.2 innings and only three earned runs allowed. This matchup will occur 13 more times during the regular season (three more series after this one). Richmond hosts Harrisburg for two of them (7/7-7/9, 8/24-8/26). RHP Pedro Rodriguez makes just his second start of the season for the Squirrels tonight due to Kyle Crick recently moving to the bullpen for now. Rodriguez went five innings in a start on June 21, which was a doubleheader day. The right-hander did not surrender a run and recorded five strikeouts. The 27-year-old has posted a 2.54 ERA in 22 bullpen appearances in 2015.

MINOR SETBACK WITH A BIZARRE STRETCH: Richmond lost four straight games in a span of six days (6/23-6/29), which was the longest losing streak since the 15 game skid (4/15-5/3). There was some serious inclement weather that invaded the Northeast and seriously put a twist to the beginning of this road trip in New Britain. The Squirrels and Rock Cats were suspended in game one of this series after three scoreless frames on Saturday due to heavy rain. They were supposed to resume action Sunday and in addition play the second game, but, again, a torrential downpour forced another postponement. So, Richmond and New Britain audibled for a shortened two-game series Monday (scrapping the third game). In the resumption of the suspended game, the Squirrels dealt with their third consecutive shutout loss despite outhitting the Rock Cats 5-3. This marked the first time in franchise history Richmond had been blanked in three straight games. The tides turned a bit in game two. Rando Moreno delivered a go-ahead two run double in the seventh inning, which propelled the team to a 2-1 win. Down to their final out (in just a seven inning game), Moreno not only gave the Squirrels the lead, but also broke the scoreless streak. The Squirrels began June with a league best 12-3 record, but with recent transactions, it is a new-look squad that is trying to find some identity. They are 2-6 in their last eight games. The Squirrels close the book on the month of June with just five runs in the final six games. This will be only his 10th start in his career.

"HEY NOW, YOU'RE AN ALL-STAR": Eastern League All-Star Game rosters were announced today and the Squirrels will send four players and three coaches from their staff. RHP Joe Biagini, LHP Kelvin Marte, INF Rando Moreno, and 1B Ricky Oropesa all earned the invitations to the game, which takes place in Portland, ME (Home of the Sea Dogs) on July 15. Biagini holds an ERA of 2.01 and that is good for fourth best in the league. He is also limiting hitters to a measly .216 average and that is the third lowest from any starter. The right-hander produced a stellar outing on June 16 against Harrisburg with a season high eight scoreless innings. Marte has served time as a reliever and starter this season. The southpaw currently sports a 1.69 ERA out of the bullpen and 3.15 as a starter. With most of the production gone from Triple-A promotions, Moreno and Oropesa headline the offense. Oropesa hit .343 in May to capture Eastern League Player of the Month and Morneo has shown consistency all year with a .297 average (best on the team). Manager Jose Alguacil, hitting coach Kenny Joyce, and trainer David Getsoff receive the responsibility as coaches for the game in honor of the Western Division crown in 2014.

A MUCH NEEDED BREATHER: The arms out of the bullpen should be thankful for the washouts this weekend. Richmond relievers tossed a total of 15 innings in the series against Trenton (7/23-7/26). They utilized eight different pitchers through this four-game span and only absorbed two earned runs. In addition to the unexpected off day Sunday, the relievers received more help. The starting staff for the Squirrels logged 12 of the 15 innings during the brief two-game series Monday against New Britain. Tyler Beede preserved the bullpen arms with a seven-inning performance Tuesday against Harrisburg,.

MIDDLE OF THE PACK: The Squirrels were in 3rd place in the Western Division for 24 days in June. There was a small span of time (6/17-6/19) where Richmond held a share of second place for the first time since being 3-3 on April 15. The team dropped to fourth place following Monday's action for the first time since May 19. The Squirrels are 4.5 games back of the Bowie Baysox (Baltimore Orioles) and just a half game out of the newly 3rd place Akron Rubberducks (Cleveland Indians). Richmond has not been 4.5 games out of first place since June 14.

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.

HARRISBURG STARTING PITCHER: Dakota Bacus (4-1, 3.09)

Bacus, 24, was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the 9th round of the 2012 draft out of Indiana State University. He was traded by the A's to the Nationals for C Kurt Suzuki in August of 2013. He spent all of the 2014 season at Advanced-A Potomac in the Washington system and posted a record of 7-6 and ERA of 4.41 across 27 appearances - 20 starts. He opened 2015 back in the Carolina League, but earned a promotion to Harrisburg after compiling a 2-0 record and 2.33 ERA in eight outings - five starts. He will be making his eighth Double-A appearance tonight. Bacus faced Richmond in his second Double-A start and yielded six earned runs on seven hits through five innings. The right-hander comes off an outing on June 25 in which he walked a season high four batters despite lasting seven frames.

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