EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Flying Squirrels Game Notes - vs.Harrisburg

Published on August 25, 2015 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


Richmond Flying Squirrels (SF) (62-64)

vs.

Harrisburg Senators (WASH) (62-66)

Tuesday, August 25th -- 7:05 PM

The Diamond -- Richmond, VA

Game #127 - Home Game #66

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

Richmond LHP Kelvin Marte (9-5, 2.48) vs. RHP Lucas Giolito (2-1, 3.77)

Wednesday, August 26th HAR 7:05 PM LHP Matt Lujan (7-5, 3.45) vs. RHP Colin Bates (5-4, 3.98) Fox Sports 910/FoxSportsRichmond.com

Thursday, August 27th @AKR 7:05 PM RHP Chase Johnson (0-1, 11.25) vs. RHP Adam Plutko (8-5, 3.13) Fox Sports 910/FoxSportsRichmond.com

SERIES AT A GLANCE: The Flying Squirrels continue a brief three game homestand against the Harrisburg Senators tonight. It is the second consecutive three game homestand for the Squirrels as they play a majority of contests in August on the road. 18 of 29 games are away in August, however the Squirrels do finish the season at home with a four game series against Reading. Richmond lost the opener of this series on Monday night by a final of 4-3. The Squirrels had a 3-1 lead with one out in the ninth but could not finish the job. It was the first loss when leading into the ninth inning at home this year. Both second place Altoona and third place Akron lost last night to keep the Squirrels playoffs hopes alive. They enter play tonight trailing a playoff spot by 5.0 games with only 14 left to play. Harrisburg returns to The Diamond for the third and final time this season. Richmond has one more series against the Senators at Metro Bank Park next week. The Squirrels play a total of 19 games against Harrisburg this year and are currently 7-7 against them. Harrisburg took two out of three last time these two teams met (7/7-7/9) at The Diamond.

NOT MUCH OFF THE TABLE: The leadoff hitter for the Squirrels has had a tough time setting the tone recently for the offense. Over the last eight games, the first batter in the order has been either Myles Schroder, Engel Beltre, Rando Moreno or Jesus Galindo. During these eight contests, the unit has gone 2-29 when placed in the lead off spot. They have scored just three of the 20 Richmond runs throughout this stretch of time with 12 strikeouts and five walks. The last time a leadoff hitter for Richmond recorded a multi-hit game was on August 11th when Schroder went 2-4 against Bowie.

HOLD ME CLOSER TONY DANZA: Aside from a late -inning loss on Monday, the Squirrels have been sturdy with the game on the line. Former Squirrel reliever (now with the Reds organization) Stephen Johnson leads the Eastern League in holds with 16. Rigthy Jose Casilla ranks 3rd (13) and lefty Phil McCormick ranks 4th in holds (11)

ROSTER SHUFFLE: The Richmond roster experienced a busy day on Thursday with a multitude of transactions (see back page). RHP Stephen Johnson was shipped to the Cincinnati Reds in a deal that brought 37-year-old MLB outfielder Marlon Byrd to San Francisco. Johnson left Richmond as a strikeout machine. He had the third highest strikeout/9 innings ratio in the league among relievers (58 IP, 68 K, ratio of 10.55). In his last 9.1 innings out of the bullpen with the Squirrels, Johnson only allowed one earned run.

LEAST OF THE EAST: The Flying Squirrels have struggled against teams in the Eastern Division. Richmond fell to 3-9 against Eastern Division foe Trenton with the series loss this weekend and are just 22-32 against the opposite division. Despite those struggles, the Squirrels have held their own within the Western Division to stay afloat in the standings. Richmond does not have a loosing record against any of the same division opponents and are 6-0 against Akron, 11-10 vs. Bowie, 10-10 vs. Altoona, and 7-7 vs. Harrisburg and 5-5 vs. Erie.

SERIES SLUMP AND ROAD SLUMP: The Squirrels have only won one series in their last eight attempts. The only series victory came against New Hampshire (8/4-8/6). This stretch includes a series sweep at the hands of Altoona from July 27 to July 29. It was the first time the team got swept since early May (5/1-5/3) against New Britain. The uncharted territory has caused for some drop off as well with the team recently. They have won just five of their previous 18 road games. In the road wins, they have won in convincing fashion for the most part by outscoring their opponent 29-13 in those five contests.

UPCOMING HOMESTAND PROMOTIONS: (8/25) Fredericksburg Community Night. (8/26) Fleece Blanket Giveaway & In Your-Face Fireworks. (9/4) Free Shirt Fridays, Happy Hour & Ladies Night. (9/5) Superblast Saturday and 20th Anniversary of Billy Madison. (9/6) Kids Club Metal Lunchbox Giveaway. (9/7) Bark In the Park #3 - Labor Day.

WHERE'S MYLES? Its a constant game of guessing where uber utility man Myles Schroder will be in the lineup and on the field. Schroder played third base and hit 8th in Sunday's game. It was the 10th time he has started at third and his 7th time hitting 8th. Here are his other starts by position and batting order: Leadoff (27) 2nd (4), 6th (24), 7th (22), 8th (7). 1B (6), 2B (21), 3B (10), LF (25), CF (11), RF (7)

HARRISBURG STARTING PITCHER: RHP Lucas Giolito (2-1, 3.77)

Giolito will make his 6th Double-A start and his 17th overall in 2015 tonight (19th appearance). The hard-throwing righty currently ranks as the #2 prospect in Minor League Baseball and the #1 pitching prospect. He made 11 starts (13 appearances) for Advanced-A Potomac and went 3-5 with a 2.71 ERA before being promoted to Harrisburg. He made his Double-A debut on 7/28 in New Hampshire and went: 5.0IP, 6H,4R,3BB in that outing. The 21 year-old was selected by the Nationals in the firts round (16th overall) of the 2012 draft out of Harvard-Westlake HS, in Studio California. He signed for a bonus of $2.92 Million despite concerns regarding a sprained ulnar collateral ligament and a strong commitment to UCLA. . He made one appearance after being selected and then underwent Tommy John Surgery. 2014 was his first full season returning from the injury and dominated over 20 starts with Hagerstown. The son of Hollywood actors Lindsay Frost and Rick Giolito, His mother, Lindsay appeared in episodes of "Boston Legal," "Crossing Jordan," "Lost" and "Frasier." ... His grandfather, Warren Frost, is an actor who played Mr. Ross in "Seinfeld."

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Eastern League Stories from August 25, 2015


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