EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Flying Squirrels Game Notes at Bowie

Published on May 23, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


Richmond Flying Squirrels (21-24) vs. Bowie Baysox (18-26)

Wednesday, May 23rd -- 7:05 PM

Prince George's Stadium -- Bowie, MD

Game # 46 - Road Game # 25

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

LHP Mike Kickham (2-4, 4.04) vs. RHP Zach Clark (3-3, 3.55)

SERIES AT A GLANCE: The Flying Squirrels will aim for their second straight win when they take on the Bowie Baysox in the third of a four-game series at Prince George's Stadium tonight. Last night, Richmond took advantage of another sterling performance from starter Chris Heston and snapped its season-long four-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory over the Baysox. Heston allowed six hits and just one unearned run in eight innings pitched. The right-hander earned his fourth win of the season and lowered his ERA to an Eastern League-best 0.61 through nine starts. Ryan Cavan went 1-for-4 with an RBI double and the Flying Squirrels also received RBIs from Chris Dominguez and Joel Weeks. Brett Bochy worked a scoreless ninth inning and picked up his fourth save of the season. The Flying Squirrels went 9-16 against Bowie in 2011 including a 6-6 mark at The Diamond. Richmond is 32-34 all-time against Bowie and the club is 13-19 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: LHP Mike Kickham vs. RHP Zach Clark Kickham: Makes his ninth start of the season for the Flying Squirrels tonight. In his last start, Kickham allowed six hits and a season-high seven runs, six of which were earned, along with three strikeouts and two walks at Akron Friday. He took the loss in Richmond's 16-3 setback. Tonight's game will be his fourth career start against Bowie. He is 1-1 with a 1.35 ERA against the Baysox. Kickham currently ranks fifth in the Eastern League in walks (23). Last season, Kickham went 5-10 and posted a 4.11 ERA in 21 starts with Low-A Augusta. He entered the 2012 season ranked as the #20 prospect in the Giants farm system. As a professional, Kickham owns a 7-14 record with a 4.21 ERA in 32 career minor league appearances, including 29 starts. Kickham enjoyed a successful, albeit brief, career at Missouri State University, where he finished fifth in school history in single-season strikeouts (106) and won the team's Dave Dickensheet Pitcher-of-the-Year award in his lone season with the Bears. The St. Louis, MO native was selected by the Giants in the sixth round of the 2010 June Draft as a draft-eligible sophomore. He signed with San Francisco for a $410,000 bonus.

Clark: Makes his ninth start of the season tonight. In his last start, Clark allowed four hits and one unearned run along with three walks and one strikeout in 7.0 innings pitched at Harrisburg Friday. He earned his third win of the season in Bowie's 9-3 triumph.

The right-hander spent the entire 2011 season with Bowie. In 24 appearances, including 23 starts, Clark posted a 10-9 record with a 5.00 ERA. He was named Eastern League Pitcher-of-the Week for the week of April 25 through May 2, 2011. He split the 2010 campaign between four Baltimore affiliates, Low-A Delmarva, Advanced-A Frederick, Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk. In 30 combined appearances, including 15 starts, Clark compiled a 3-9 record with one save and a 4.29 ERA. In 151 career minor league appearances, including 98 starts, Clark owns a 37-40 record with three saves and a 3.90 ERA. He was signed by the Orioles as a non-drafted free agent on May 26, 2006 out of the University of Maryland-Baltimore County.

HESTO PRESTO: Chris Heston has been arguably the top pitcher in the Eastern League throughout the season, but the right-hander has taken his game to another level in May. In four May starts, Heston has amassed a 2-0 record with a perfect 0.00 ERA.

He has allowed 20 hits and just two unearned runs while racking up 23 strikeouts and yielding just four walks in 29 innings pitched.

In his last two starts, Heston has allowed just one unearned run in 16 innings pitched. He currently leads the Eastern League in ERA (0.61) and opponents' batting average (.186) and ranks second in strikeouts (48) and WHIP (0.84). The former East Carolina star posted the top ERA in the Advanced-A California League (3.16) as a member of the San Jose Giants last year.

ROCK CHALK...: In his first season with Richmond, Brett Bochy has thrived in the Flying Squirrels bullpen. The former Kansas Jayhawk is 3-1 with four saves in six chances and a 1.66 ERA in 15 appearances after skipping over High-A San Jose. Opposing batters are hitting .141 (10-for-71) against him. He worked 18 scoreless innings, spanning his first 11 appearances, before allowing four earned runs on three hits against Bowie on May 10.

FLIGHT RISK: Gary Brown's stolen base last night was his 12th stole base of the season and sixth since the calendar turned to May. Brown's 12 steals have come in 16 attempts, giving him a success rate of 75 percent. He now ranks fourth in the Eastern League in stolen bases. Harrisburg's Jeff Kobernus leads the circuit in steals with 25. Last season, Brown stole 53 bases in 72 attempts with Advanced-A San Jose and ranked second in the California League in stolen bases.

Check out the Richmond Flying Squirrels Statistics

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Eastern League Stories from May 23, 2012


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