EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Flying Squirrels Game Notes at Bowie

Published on May 22, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


Richmond Flying Squirrels (20-24) vs. Bowie Baysox (18-25)

Tuesday, May 22nd -- 7:05 PM

Prince George's Stadium -- Bowie, MD

Game # 45 - Road Game # 24

Radio: Sports Radio 910 AM (6:35 PM) Internet: sportsradio910.com

RHP Chris Heston (3-2, 0.71) vs. RHP Oliver Drake (0-0, 1.50)

SERIES AT A GLANCE: The Flying Squirrels will look to snap their season-long four-game losing streak when they take on the Bowie Baysox game two of a four-game series at Prince George's Stadium tonight. Last night, Bowie scored five runs on five hits in the bottom of the seventh inning, capped by Zelous Wheeler's two-run home run off Richmond reliever Daryl Maday, and posted an 8-5 comeback victory over the Flying Squirrels in the series opener. The Flying Squirrels struck for eight hits and five earned runs off Baysox starter Cole McCurry en route to building a 5-2 lead. Johnny Monell went 1-for-3 with an RBI double and Juan Perez drove in two runs for Richmond, but the Flying Squirrels pitching staff struggled as starter Jason Stevenson gave up six hits and three earned runs in 4.2 innings pitched and Maday (2-3) yielded three hits and three earned runs in just 0.1 innings pitched.

The Flying Squirrels went 9-16 against Bowie in 2011 including a 6-6 mark at The Diamond. Richmond is 31-34 all-time against Bowie and the club is 12-19 all-time at Prince George's Stadium. The two teams will meet 24 times in 2012, 10 times in Bowie and 14 times in Richmond. Richmond won two out of three games between the two clubs in Bowie April 9-11 and the two teams split a four-game series at The Diamond from April 30 through May 3. The Flying Squirrels won three out of four from the Baysox at The Diamond from May 10 through May 13. Following this four-game series, the two teams will meet again at Bowie's Prince George's Stadium for a three-game set July 23 through July 25.

TODAY'S PITCHERS: RHP Chris Heston vs. RHP Oliver Drake Heston: Makes his ninth start of the season for the Flying Squirrels tonight. In his last start, Heston matched his career-high with eight scoreless innings against Harrisburg Thursday. He allowed one walk and struck out six batters in a pitchers' duel with Harrisburg's Danny Rosenbaum, who worked seven scoreless frames. Heston received a no-decision in Richmond's 1-0 victory in 14 innings. Tonight's game will be his third career start against Bowie. He is 2-0 with a 0.71 ERA against the Baysox. Heston currently ranks second in the Eastern League in ERA (0.71), WHIP (0.85) and Opponents' Average (.185). Last season, Heston went 12-4 and posted a 3.16 ERA, which led the California League, in 24 starts. with Advanced-A San Jose. His 12 wins tied him for second in the circuit behind current Squirrels teammate Craig Westcott. As a result, the 24-year-old right-hander was named a California League Mid-Season All-Star. Heston's success in San Jose came on the heels of a middling season with Low-A Augusta, in which he compiled a 5-13 mark with a 3.75 ERA in 26 starts in 2010. Heston owns a 21-24 record with a 3.15 ERA in 69 career minor league appearances, including 64 starts. The Palm Bay, Fla. native was originally selected by Minnesota in the 47th round of the 2007 June Draft, but he did not sign. He also did not sign after being picked by Washington in the 29th round of the 2008 June Draft. He signed with San Francisco after the Giants selected him in the 12th round of the 2009 June Draft out of East Carolina University.

Drake: Makes his second start of the season tonight after being activated from the disabled list by Bowie on May 15. In his last start, Drake allowed three hits and one earned run along with no walks and six strikeouts in 6.0 innings pitched against Altoona Thursday. He received a no-decision in Bowie's 4-2 setback. He is currently second in the Eastern League in losses (6), behind teammate Bobby Bundy (7). The right-hander split the 2011 season between three different Baltimore affiliates, Advanced-A Frederick, Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk. In 14 appearances, including 13 starts, with Frederick, Drake went 8-3 with a 2.14 ERA and he earned Carolina League Pitcher-of-the-Week honors for the week of June 27 through July 4. In 12 starts with the Baysox, he went 3-5 with a 5.20 ERA and he worked two scoreless innings in his lone appearance with Norfolk. He spent the 2010 campaign with Frederick and posted a 6-6 record with a 4.36 ERA in 24 appearances, including 21 starts. In 89 career minor league appearances, including 71 starts, Drake owns a 26-23 record with one save and a 3.77 ERA. He was selected by the Oriole in the 43rd round of the 2008 June Draft out of the U.S. Naval Academy.

MADDENING MAY: The Flying Squirrels have struggled offensively in May. Through 20 games, Richmond's team batting average in May is .237 (156-for-658) with 40 extra-base hits (33 doubles, seven home runs, no triples) and 57 RBIs. The Flying Squirrels have a .290 on-base percentage in May and a .319 slugging percentage. In April, the Flying Squirrels batted .255 (199-for-780) with 45 extra-base hits (32 doubles, two triples and 11 home runs) and 83 RBIs in 24 games. Richmond's on-base percentage in April was .329 and its slugging percentage was .344.

HERE'S JOHNNY: Johnny Monell continues to thrive at the plate for the Flying Squirrels. In his last four games, Monell is batting .467 (7-for-15) with a home run, two doubles, three RBIs and two runs scored. He is currently batting .304 (17-for-56) and he has hit three of his four home runs in May. Additionally, he has five doubles, 10 RBIs and eight runs scored in 18 games since the calendar flipped to May.

Check out the Richmond Flying Squirrels Statistics

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Eastern League Stories from May 22, 2012


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