EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Flying Squirrels Game Notes: at Bowie

Published on May 15, 2015 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


Richmond Flying Squirrels (SF) (12-19) vs. Bowie Baysox (BAL) (18-16)

Friday, May 15th -- 6:35 PM

Prince George's Stadium -- Bowie, MD

Game #32 - Road Game #14

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

LHP Kelvin Marte (2-0, 1.59) vs. RHP Dylan Bundy (0-2, 2.25)

SERIES AT A GLANCE: The Squirrels leveled the season-series with the Bowie Baysox on Thursday night, posting a, 7-2, victory. The season-series is now square at five games apiece. The Squirrels had help on Thursday, as the Baysox committed three errors and handed Richmond four unearned runs. RHP Joe Biagini worked a strong seven innings to earn his second consecutive win over Bowie. Tonight will mark the 11th meeting of the year, as Richmond plays their 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 all-time series, which began in 2010, is once again deadlocked, 68-68. The Squirrels enter play tonight having won nine of their last 10 games, and each of their last three series. With their win on Thursday, the Squirrels pulled out of the Western Division cellar. Bowie has dropped four straight games, but still hold second place in the West. LHP Kelvin Marte looks for his second straight win over the Baysox as he makes his third start of the year tonight. Orioles' top-prospect RHP Dylan Bundy (Bio Below) faces the Squirrels for the second straight time as well.

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 nine of their last 11 games, and pulled out of the basement in the Western Division with their win on Thursday night. After posting a record of 3-14 in the month of April, Richmond is currently 9-5 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 (7) in May (14 games), than they did in April (5 - 17 games).

IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR RICKY OROPESA, LOOK ON THE HIGH ROAD: Ricky Oropesa doesn't seem to enjoy hitting at The Diamond. Thus far, the 1B has hit just .115 (6-52) at home while striking out 14 times. However, he saves his best for when Squirrels' fans aren't looking. Oropesa has been a force on the road this season. He is currently batting .373 (19-51) away from The Diamond. He has four three-hit games on the year, with all of them occurring on the road. He also seems to be warming with the weather. The USC product has raised his season average 108 points (.135-.243) during the month of May. He has done so by batting .353 (18-51) in May after hitting just .135 (7-52) during the month of April.

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 31 games against National League affiliates. Richmond is 7-14 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 10 consecutive 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 now have committed the second-fewest errors in the circuit (29). The Squirrels committed a league-high 23 errors in April (17 games), while they have committed just six over their first 14 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 10 days ago in Altoona, it will 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 Dylan Bundy (0-2, 2.25)

Bundy, 22, was considered one of the most elite high school pitcher drafted in years when the Orioles took him with the fourth overall selection in 2011 out of Owasso High School in Oklahoma. He made waves in his first full professional season in 2012, ascending through three levels of the minor leagues and ultimately earning a September callup to the big leagues. He made two relief appearances for the Orioles as a 19-year old. He also participated in the MLB Futures Game that year, and threw to then Squirrels catcher Tommy Joseph. His velocity was off during spring training 2013, and upon further examination, Bundy required Tommy Joseph surgery. He did not get on a mound in 2013, and the road back also claimed most of 2014 when he made just nine appearances - none above the Advanced-A level. He continues to build back up, and had not been allowed to throw more than 60 pitches in any outing this season, prior to his latest outing against the Squirrels (65). He continues to rate as the top-prospect in the Baltimore system, and has been placed there for four straight seasons by Baseball America. He makes his second start of the year against the Squirrels tonight, having turned in three laborious, but scoreless innings at The Diamond on May 10th. He tossed six innings against Richmond on August 20th, 2012. He allowed two runs in that appearance and did not factor in the decision.

Check out the Richmond Flying Squirrels Statistics

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Eastern League Stories from May 15, 2015


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