Flying Squirrels Game Notes at Erie
Published on July 28, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release
Richmond Flying Squirrels (54-53) vs. Erie SeaWolves (47-59)
Saturday, July 28th -- 7:05 PM
Jerry Uht Park -- Erie, PA
Game # 108 - Road Game # 57
Radio: Sports Radio 910 AM (6:35 PM) Internet: sportsradio910.com
RHP Justin Fitzgerald (6-7, 3.86) vs. RHP Patrick Cooper (2-5, 5.11)
SERIES AT A GLANCE: The Flying Squirrels will attempt to get back on the winning track when they take on the Erie Sea- Wolves in the third game of a four-game series at Jerry Uht Park tonight. Last night, Niuman Romero went 2-for-3 with a double, a RBI and a run scored and Jared Wesson allowed five hits and one earned run in six innings Erie defeated the Flying Squirrels 5-2.
The SeaWolves were aggressive on the base paths all night long, stealing five bases against Richmond. Three of the five stolen bases ultimately resulted in Erie runs. Additionally, SeaWolves starter Jared Wesson (6-6) was effectively wild, issuing four walks in six innings, but the southpaw allowed five hits and just one earned run, thanks to three timely double plays. Johnny Monell and Juan Perez each collected two hits and Monell drove in both runs for Richmond, which stranded seven base runners on the night and got the leadoff man aboard in six innings, but failed to score in five of those frames. Richmond starter Mike Kickham (8-8) allowed eight hits and five earned runs in six innings and took the loss. The Flying Squirrels went 8-2 against Erie in 2011 including a 6-1 mark at The Diamond. Richmond is 17-10 all-time against the SeaWolves and the club is 7-5 all-time against Erie at Jerry Uht Park.
Erie won two out of three games against Richmond when the two teams met at The Diamond at the start of June (6/1-6/3). This weekend's four-game set will be the final games between the two Western Division rivals in the 2012 regular season.
TODAY'S PITCHERS: RHP Justin Fitzgerald vs. RHP Patrick Cooper Fitzgerald: Makes his twenty-second start of the season for the Flying Squirrels tonight. In his last start, Fitzgerald allowed three hits along with one walk and two strikeouts in seven scoreless innings at Bowie Monday. He earned his sixth win of the season in Richmond's 1-0 triumph. Tonight's game will be Fitzgerald's fourth career start against Erie. He is 2-1 with a 2.66 ERA against the SeaWolves. Fitzgerald is currently tied for fourth in the Eastern League in opponents' batting average (.236). 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 28-24 record with a 3.61 ERA in 130 career minor league appearances, including 73 starts. The Santa Rosa, Calif. native was selected by the Giants in the 11th round of the 2008 June Draft out of UC-Davis.
Cooper: Makes his twenty-second appearance and his eleventh start of the season tonight. He opened the season with Advanced- A Lakeland, where he compiled a 1-0 record with one save and a 2.53 ERA in five appearances. Since his promotion to Erie, Cooper has posted a 2-5 record with a 5.11 ERA in 16 appearances, including 10 starts. In his last start, Cooper allowed a career-high eleven hits and six earned runs along with three walks and four strikeouts in six innings pitched at Akron Monday. He took the loss in Erie's 11-1 setback. Cooper spent the entire 2011 season with Low-A West Michigan, where he went 5-6 with one save and a 4.00 ERA in 33 appearances, including three starts. He is 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA (0 ER/5.0 IP) in one career appearance against Richmond. Cooper has a career record of 12-13 with two saves and a 4.59 ERA in 67 appearances, including 25 starts.
Originally selected by Arizona in the 34th round of the 2009 June Draft, Cooper did not sign. He was selected by the Tigers in the 14th round of the 2010 June Draft out of Bradley (IL) University.
DOUBLE TROUBLE: The Flying Squirrels hit into three double plays, two of which were of the traditional ground ball variety, in last night's game. As a result, Richmond squandered several potential scoring opportunities in the ballgame. The Flying Squirrels have now grounded into 103 double plays in 2012, which leads the Eastern League. Binghamton ranks second in the circuit with 102 GIDP. No other team in the league has grounded into more than 95 double plays.
HIGHWAY ROBBERY: Richmond allowed five stolen bases in last night's loss at Erie, the highest single-game total they've surrendered in 2012. Prior to last night, the Flying Squirrels had allowed three stolen bases in a game twice this season (@ Reading on April 24 and @ Altoona on May 31). Three of Erie's successful base stealers came around to score after swiping a bag (Niuman Romero in the 2nd, James McCann in the 5th and Bryan Pounds in the 6th). For the season, Richmond has thrown out 39 of 106 potential base stealers, which works out to a .368 caught stealing percentage. Richmond is ranked sixth in the Eastern League in caught stealing percentage. Trenton leads the league with a .448 caught stealing percentage. Prior to last night, Richmond had a .386 caught stealing percentage (39-for-101).
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