EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Flying Squirrels Game Notes at Bowie

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


Richmond Flying Squirrels (52-50) vs. Bowie Baysox (51-49)

Monday, July 23rd -- 7:05 PM

The Diamond -- Richmond, VA

Game # 103 - Road Game # 52

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

RHP Justin Fitzgerald (5-7, 4.10) vs. RHP Eddie Gamboa (4-1, 2.92)

SERIES AT A GLANCE: The Flying Squirrels will aim for their second straight win when they take on the Bowie Baysox in the opener of a three-game series at Prince George's Stadium tonight. Last night, Tommy Joseph and Mark Minicozzi belted back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the ninth to lift the Flying Squirrels to a dramatic 4-3 walk-off win over the Akron Aeros in the finale of a four-game series at The Diamond Sunday night. The home runs capped a three-run frame for Richmond, which enabled the club to erase a 3-1 deficit and earn a split in the four-game series. Richmond reliever Jake Dunning (3-2) earned the win.

Preston Guilmet (2-2) took the loss for Akron after yielding three hits and three earned runs in 1/3 of an inning of work. The Flying Squirrels went 9-16 against Bowie in 2011 including a 6-6 mark at The Diamond. Richmond is 33-35 all-time against Bowie and the club is 14-20 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. The teams split a four-game series in Bowie May 21 through May 24. Following this three-game series, the two teams will meet again at The Diamond for a three-game set August 10 through August 12.

TODAY'S PITCHERS: RHP Justin Fitzgerald vs. RHP Eddie Gamboa Fitzgerald: Makes his twenty-first start of the season for the Flying Squirrels tonight. In his last start, Fitzgerald allowed six hits and five runs, two of which were along with two walks and seven strikeouts in five innings pitched against Altoona Wednesday.

He took the loss in Richmond's 8-3 setback. 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 27-24 record with a 3.66 ERA in 129 career minor league appearances, including 72 starts. The Santa Rosa, Calif. native was selected by the Giants in the 11th round of the 2008 June Draft out of UC-Davis.

Gamboa: Makes his twenty-third appearance and his eleventh start of the season tonight. Gamboa opened the season with Bowie and was on the club's roster until he received a mid-May promotion to Triple-A Norfolk, where he went 1-1 with a 7.02 ERA in four appearances, including three starts. Since his promotion to Akron, Then, Gamboa was transferred to Advanced-A Frederick, where he posted a 1-0 record with a 0.00 ERA in two appearances, including one start. He rejoined the Baysox in late June. In his last start, Gamboa allowed six hits and two earned runs along with one walk and one strikeout in six innings pitched at Erie Wednesday. He earned his fourth win of the season in Bowie's 5-2 triumph. The right-hander split the entire 2011 campaign between Short-Season A Aberdeen and Bowie, and he posted a combined record of 2-6 with four saves and a 2.90 ERA. In 14 career appearances, including six starts, against the Flying Squirrels, Gamboa is 1-2 with one save and a 2.68 ERA. Gamboa boasts a career record of 27-20 with ten saves and a 2.95 ERA in 132 appearances, including 42 starts. He was selected by Baltimore in the 21st round of the 2008 June Draft out of UC-Davis.

WALK-OFF HOME RUNS: Last night's 4-3 win over Akron was the fifth game in franchise history in which the Flying Squirrels won on a walk-off home run. The previous four wins that came via walk-off home run for Richmond are as follows: 8/11/2010 vs.

New Hampshire (Brandon Belt HR, Bot. of 14th), 5/12/2011 vs. Harrisburg (Johnny Monell HR, Bot. 11th), 7/5/2011 vs. Trenton (Francisco Peguero Grand Slam, Bot 7th in game two of a doubleheader) and 4/27/2012 vs. New Britain (Juan Perez HR Bot. 13th).

Last night's game concluded with back-to-back home runs from Tommy Joseph and Mark Minicozzi, making it the first time Richmond has claimed a walk-off win on back-to-back home runs.

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD: Last night's walk-off home run extended what has been a successful stretch at the plate for Flying Squirrels infielder Mark Minicozzi. The former East Carolina standout and Can-Am League All-Star is batting .367 (11-for-30) with two doubles, a home run, and three RBIs in his last eight games. Additionally, he now has a 25-game on-base streak, the longest active on-base streak in the Eastern League.

GO WEST, YOUNG MAN: Richmond's seven-game road trip at Bowie and Erie, which opens tonight in Bowie, is the continuation of a stretch of 19 straight games against Western Division foes. Richmond is 8-4 through the first 12 games of the stretch.

Check out the Richmond Flying Squirrels Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Eastern League Stories from July 23, 2012


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central