EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Flying Squirrels Game Notes: at Bowie

Published on May 14, 2015 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


Richmond Flying Squirrels (SF) (11-19) vs. Bowie Baysox (BAL) (18-15)

Thursday, May 14th -- 6:35 PM

Prince George's Stadium -- Bowie, MD

Game #31 - Road Game #13

Radio: Fox Sports 910 (6:00 PM) Internet: FoxSportsRichmond.com

RHP Joe Biagini (1-2, 1.93) vs. RHP Branden Kline (3-2, 3.66)

SERIES AT A GLANCE: The Squirrels and Baysox open their fourth series of the season against each other already on the season. Tonight will mark the 10th meeting of the year, and also Richmond's second series at Prince George's Stadium. The two teams split a four-game season-opening series at The Diamond from 4/9-4/12. Richmond was swept by Bowie in an abbreviated two-game series in Maryland (4/20-4/21) that was part of their 15-game skid. Most recently, the Squirrels grabbed two-of-three from the Baysox on the Boulevard during their recently completed homestand (5/8-5/10). The two teams will meet 21 times during the 2015 season-series, with the Baysox again visiting The Diamond next week for a three-game series (5/22-5/24). The Baysox hold a slight edge in the season-series (5-4), and also the all-time series (68-67), which began in 2010. The Squirrels enter play tonight having won eight of their last 10 games, and each of their last three series. However, they continue to share the Western Division cellar with Erie. Most recently, Bowie was swept in a three-game series by the Altoona Curve. The Baysox reside in second place in the Western Division. RHP Joe Biagini makes his third start of the year against the Baysox - his second at Prince George's Stadium. Bowie RHP Branden Kline (Bio Below) will also be making his third start against the Squirrels. Each hurler is facing the opposition for the second straight start.

NOBODY CIRCLES THE WAGONS LIKE THE BUFFALO BILLS: Or in this case, the Squirrels. After dropping a franchise-record 15 straight ballgames, the Squirrels have won eight of their last 10 games, and briefly pulled out of the cellar in the Western Division with their win on Monday night. After posting a record of 3-14 in the month of April, Richmond is currently 8-5 in the month of May. A large reason for the turnaround has been an emerging offense. The Squirrels recorded a team-average of just .209 in April. However, that average has jumped to .251 in May, a 42-point increase. The Squirrels have already hit more home runs (6) in May (13 games), than they did in April (5 - 17 games).

I SWEAR I HIT SAVE: Remarkably, through their first 20 games of the season, the Squirrels had recorded just one save (Josh Osich - 4/10 vs. Bowie). However, back-end relief has been another major reason the Squirrels have begun to turn things around of late. While winning eight of their last 10 games, Richmond has recorded six saves as a team. Osich has four of those, including three straight (5/7-5/9), a career first. RHP Jose Casilla also notched his first of the year (5/6 @ Altoona) and RHP Joan Gregorio recorded his first of the season - and second of his career - on Monday night.

DEFINITELY NOT LIKE A NASHVILLE PARTY: Inspired by the Sunday clubhouse stylings of Miley Cyrus, the Squirrels won their first 13 Sunday games of the 2014 season. The feat was chronicled by Milb.com. Things seemed to have soured between the team and the singer however. The Squirrels are currently winless on Sundays in 2015 (0-5). Sunday is in fact the only day of the week that the Squirrels have yet to record a win. Each Sunday game has been a day game, and the Squirrels have struggled in those contests in general. Richmond is presently 2-8 during the daytime this season.

EVERYBODY WHO'S HITTING STEP FORWARD...YOU...NOT SO FAST!: Although the affiliation switch in New Britain (Minnesota -> Colorado) has balanced the Eastern League with six National League and six American League affiliates, the Squirrels have played 21 of their first 30 games against National League affiliates. Richmond is 6-14 in those contests in which the pitchers bat for themselves. Thus far on the year, Squirrels' hurlers are a combined 5-for-36 (.139) at the plate. The only American League affiliate the Squirrels have played is Bowie, who they meet for a fourth series this weekend. In fact, the DH will be in play for the entirety of this road trip, and when the Baysox come back to The Diamond next weekend (5/22-5/24). All told, the DH will be in play for the next 10 games.

CLEAN IT UP WILL YA?: The Squirrels spent much of April carrying the lowest fielding percentage of any team in the Eastern League. However, they have dramatically turned things around, and now share the league-lead for top fielding percentage (.977) as a club. Additionally, they are in a current three-way tie for the fewest errors in the circuit (28). The Squirrels committed a league-high 23 errors in April (17 games), while they have committed just five over their first 13 games in May. The team does lead the league in passed balls with six.

WHY YOU GOTTA BRING UP OLD BLEEP?: Although the Squirrels snapped their losing streak nine days ago in Altoona, it figures to live on in the team's record book. During the 15-game slide, the Squirrels were outscored 82-38, enduring four blowout (5+ run differential) losses, and were shut out four times. The Squirrels' previous franchise mark for consecutive losses was seven games. They last lost seven straight from July 8th-July 15th, 2013. They also dropped seven straight in 2010.

BOWIE STARTING PITCHER: RHP Branden Kline (3-2, 3.66)

Kline, a product of the University of Virginia, makes his seventh start of the year tonight - his third against the Squirrels. He is making back-to-back starts against Richmond, and took the loss his last time around at The Diamond (5/9). He turned in a quality start (6 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 K), but was outdueled by Kelvin Marte. He made his season-debut at The Diamond on April 12th, and earned the win over five scoreless innings. He allowed the Squirrels just three hits. The 23-year old was selected in the 2nd round of the 2012 draft by the Orioles, and was limited to just 37 innings over the course of his first two professional seasons. He logged just 12 innings in his first professional season (2012) due to a heavy workload as one of the Cavaliers top starters. 2013 turned into a largely lost season for the righty after he needed surgery in May to repair fractures in his right ankle and fibula. However, he was able to log 26 starts between Frederick (A+) and Bowie in 2014, totaling 142 innings. He certainly wasn't dominant on the season, conceding an average of .289 between the two levels. Kline was originally selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 6th round of the draft coming out of high school, but elected to go to UVA. He pitched in relief his first two years in Charlottesville before converting to the rotation in his junior season. He earned All-ACC honors as the Wahoos closer in 2011.

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