Flying Squirrels Game Notes at Altoona
Published on August 26, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release
LHP Chris Gloor (4-4, 2.45) vs. RHP Jameson Taillon (1-0, 0.00)
Richmond Flying Squirrels (67-66) vs. Altoona Curve (64-68)
Sunday, August 26th -- 6:00 PM
Peoples Natural Gas Field -- Altoona, PA
Game # 134 - Road Game # 71
Radio: Sports Radio 910 AM (6:30 PM) Internet: sportsradio910.com
SERIES AT A GLANCE: The Flying Squirrels will attempt to bounce back with a win when they take on the Altoona Curve in the finale game of a four-game set at Peoples Natural Gas Field tonight. Last night, Altoona starter Kris Johnson (2-2) limited Richmond to three hits and two walks and he struck out five batters in seven scoreless innings as the Curve defeated the Flying Squirrels 3-0. Pinch hitter Gustavo Nunez hit a two-run single in the bottom of the eighth inning to seal the victory for Altoona. Squirrels starter Justin Fitzgerald (7-8) struggled with his control, but managed to turn in a quality start. He allowed just one earned run on five hits in six innings pitched, but he issued five walks, which matched his career-high, and three wild pitches. Offensively, Daniel Mayora went 1-for-2 with a double and two walks for the Flying Squirrels. The loss hurt Richmond's slim playoff hopes. The Flying Squirrels are now five games behind Bowie with nine games remaining on the schedule in the chase for the Western Division wild-card spot.The Flying Squirrels went 9-8 against Altoona in 2011 including a 5-6 mark in Altoona. Richmond is 28-35 all-time against the Curve and the club is 12-23 all-time at Peoples Natural Gas Field. The two teams will meet 21 times in 2012, 14 times in Altoona and 7 times in Richmond. Richmond won three of the first four games between the two teams at The Diamond (4/12- /4/15) and Altoona took two out of three from the Squirrels in an abbreviated three-game series in Altoona (4/19-4/22). Altoona took three of four from Richmond at Peoples Natural Gas Field (5/4-5/6). and two out of three against the Flying Squirrels in Altoona (5/29-5/31). Richmond won two out of three against the Curve in the River City (7/16-7/18).
TODAY'S PITCHERS: LHP Chris Gloor vs. RHP Jameson Taillon
Gloor: Makes his thirty-first appearance and his twelfth start of the season for the Flying Squirrels tonight. In his last start, Gloor allowed seven hits and three earned runs, along with one walk and three strikeouts in six innings pitched againstt Bowie Tuesday. He earned the win in Richmond's 7-3 triumph. Tonight's game will be Gloor's fourth career appearance and first start against Altoona. He is 0-0 with a 5.40 ERA against the Curve. Earlier this season, Gloor tossed 19.2 scoreless innings (May 1 through June 15), which was the longest scoreless streak by a Squirrels pitcher in 2012 until Chris Heston recently put together a streak of 20.1 scoreless innings. Last season, Gloor pitched for three different Giants affiliates, Advanced-A San Jose, the Rookie-Ball AZL Giants and Short-Season A Salem-Keizer. He posted a combined record of 3-1 with one save and a 3.34 ERA in 18 appear- ances. Gloor owns an 18-8 record with three saves and a 2.64 ERA in 109 career minor league appearances, including 18 starts. The Bay Shore, NY native was selected by the Giants in the 17th round of the 2009 June Draft out of Quinnipiac (CT) University.
Taillon: Makes his twenty-fifth start of the season and his second for Altoona tonight. Johnson opened the season with Advanced- A Bradenton, where he went 6-8 with a 3.82 ERA in 23 starts. Taillon was named Florida State League Pitcher-of-the-Week twice (April 23-April 30 and July 30-August 6). He also earned a spot in the FSL All-Star game as a midseason All-Star and was chosen to play for the U.S. team in the 2012 MLB Futures Game in Kansas City. In his first start with Altoona, Taillon allowed four hits and struck out six batters in five scoreless innings pitched at Trenton Tuesday. He earned the win in Altoona's 5-0 triumph. Tonight's game will be his first career start against the Flying Squirrels. The right-hander spent the entire 2011 campaign with Low-A West Virginia. He went 2-3 with a 3.98 ERA in 23 starts with the Power and was named a midseason All-Star in the South Atlantic League. Taillon boasts a 9-11 record in 47 career minor league apperances, all of which have been starts, He was selected by Pitts- burgh in the first round of the 2010 June Draft, with the second overall pick, out of The Woodlands (TX) High School. TRIPLE THREAT: One of the few bright spots for Richmond in last night's 3-0 loss was a triple play. With runners at first and second and no outs in the bottom of the fifth, Daniel Mayora fielded a groun ball off the bat of Adalberto Santos at third base. After stepping on the bag, he threw to second baseman Mark Minicozzi, who was able to tag the bag and get the relay throw to Wes Hodges in time to retire Santos at first base. It was the first triple play turned in the three-year history of the Flying Squirrels and the first triple play by an Eastern League club in 2012. There were two triple plays turned in the league in 2011, one by the Akron Aeros and one by the Trenton Thunder. SCORELESS STREAK SNAPPED: By yielding a run in the third inning in last night's game, Justin Fitzgerald saw his scoreless innings streak snapped at 16.1 innngs. Fitzgerald had worked two consecutive starts, spanning 14. 1 innings, without allowing a run (8/15 @ New Britain and 8/20 vs. Bowie) prior to last night's game. His streak is the third-longest scoreless innings streak by a Squirrels pitcher in 2012, behind Chris Heston (20.1 scoreless innings) and Chris Gloor (19.2 scoreless innings).
SHUTOUTS: Last night's 3-0 loss was the 24th shutout Richmond has been involved in, the most in the Eastern League in 2012. The Squirrels are now 15-9 in shuouts, with the most shuout wins in the circuit and the third-best winning percentage (.625).
Eastern League Stories from August 26, 2012
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- Skidding Squirrels Blanked Again by Curve, 7-0 - Richmond Flying Squirrels
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- Senators and Bowie Postponed on Sunday - Harrisburg Senators
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- Flying Squirrels Game Notes at Altoona - Richmond Flying Squirrels
- Sea Dogs Game Notes August 26 vs. Binghamton - Portland Sea Dogs
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