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EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Flying Squirrels Game Notes at Akron

July 2, 2012 - Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


Richmond Flying Squirrels (38-44) vs. Akron Aeros (49-33)

Monday, July 2nd -- 7:05 PM

Canal Park -- Akron, OH

Game # 83 - Road Game # 45

Radio: Sports Radio 910 AM (12:35 PM) Internet: sportsradio910.com

RHP Justin Fitzgerald (3-6, 4.66) vs. RHP Steven Wright (6-5, 1.98)

SERIES AT A GLANCE: The Flying Squirrels will seek their second straight win when they take on the Akron Aeros in game three of a four-game series at Canal Park tonight. On Sunday afternoon, Squirrels starter Mike Kickham tossed six scoreless innings and Gary Brown went 4-for-5 with a double and two runs scored as the Flying Squirrels defeated the Aeros 6-0. Kickham (6-6) allowed five hits and two walks and he struck out seven batters and a trio of Richmond relievers, Daryl Maday, Tom Vessella and Brett Bochy, helped preserve the shutout. Bochy worked the fi nal 1.1 innings to pick up his 10th save of the season. Juan Perez, Nick Liles and Ryan Cavan all contributed two hits apiece for Richmond and Joel Weeks and Mark Minicozzi each delivered two-out RBIs for the Flying Squirrels. Akron starter Giovanni Soto (5-5) allowed six hits and three runs, two of which were earned, along with five walks and four strikeouts in fi ve innings pitched. He took the loss for the Aeros. The Flying Squirrels went 5-6 against Akron in 2011 including a 3-5 mark at Canal Park. Richmond is 8-14 all-time against the Aeros and the club is 5-11 all-time at Canal Park. The two teams will meet 14 times in 2012, 6 times in Akron and 8 times in Richmond. Following this four-game series, the Flying Squirrels and Aeros will meet again at The Diamond for a four-game series, July 19-22.

TODAY'S PITCHERS: RHP Justin Fitzgerald vs. RHP Steven Wright Fitzgerald: Makes his seventeenth start for the Flying Squirrels tonight. In his last start, Fitzgerald allowed four hits and six runs, five of which were earned and he matched a career-high with five walks and five strikeouts in 4.0 innings pitched at Reading Wednesday. He took the loss in Richmond's 7-4 setback. Tonight's game will be Fitzgerald's fourth career start against Akron. He is 0-2 with a 6.19 ERA against the Aeros. Last season, Fitzgerald went 9-9 and posted a 3.51 ERA in a team-high 27 starts with Richmond. He also led the 2011 Flying Squirrels pitching staff in innings pitched (146.1), finished second on the club in wins (9) and walks allowed (55) and third in strikeouts (111). As a result, Fitzgerald was named an Eastern League Mid-Season All-Star. He also posted a 1-0 mark with a 2.70 ERA in two playoff starts and earned the win in the clinching game of Richmond's sweep of Harrisburg in the Western Division Championship Series. In 2010, he posted a 10-6 record with a 3.45 ERA in 26 appearances, including 25 starts, with Advanced-A San Jose and earned a spot on the California League Mid-Season All-Star team. Fitzgerald owns a 25-23 record with a 3.75 ERA in 125 career minor league appearances, including 68 starts. The Santa Rosa, Calif. native was selected by the Giants in the 11th round of the 2008 June Draft out of UC-Davis.

Wright: Makes his fifteenth start of the season tonight. In his last start, Wright allowed eight hits, which matched his season-high, and five runs, four of which were earned, along with three walks and six strikeouts in five innings pitched against Erie Wednesday.

He took the loss in Akron's 8-5 setback. The right-hander split the 2011 campaign all four of Cleveland's full-season affiliates, Low-A Lake County, Advanced-A Kinston, Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus. He posted a combined 4-8 record with a 4.58 ERA in 25 appearances, including 20 starts. Tonight's game will be his fourth career appearance and his second start against the Flying Squirrels. He is 1-1 with one save and a 3.86 ERA against Richmond. Wright boasts a career record of 35-32 with seven saves and a 3.97 ERA in 180 appearances, including 97 starts. He was selected by Cleveland in the second round of the 2006 June Draft out of the University of Hawaii.

SHUTOUTS: Sunday's 6-0 triumph over Akron was Richmond's 14th game that resulted in a shutout, the most of any team in the Eastern League. Binghamton is second in the circuit, having played in 12 shutout games. The Flying Squirrels are now 8-6 in shutout games this season. Richmond's eight wins by shutout lead the Eastern League. Akron and New Britain are tied for second in the circuit with seven shutout wins apiece.

FANTASTIC FOUR: One day after his season-high 12-game hitting streak came to an end, Gary Brown collected four hits in Sunday's win at Akron. It is the first four-hit game of the season for Brown, who has posted three hits in a game on three separate occasions this season. Brown's single-game high in hits is five, which he accomplished twice last season with San Jose. In his young pro career, Brown has recorded four or more hits in a game six times.

SUMMER SPECIAL: Squirrels starter Mike Kickham has enjoyed a significant amount of success since the calendar turned to June. After tossing six scoreless innings at Akron yesterday, Kickham improved to 3-1 with a 1.53 ERA in his last six starts, which began with a seven-inning complete game shutout over Erie on June 2. He has allowed 25 hits, nine runs, six earned runs, 18 walks and 35 strikeouts in 35.1 innings pitched since June 2. In his 10 starts in April and May, Kickham went 3-5 with a 3.83 ERA. He allowed 43 hits, 21 runs, 19 earned runs, 29 walks and 49 strikeouts in 44.2 innings pitched through the season's first two months.

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