EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Flying Squirrels Game Notes at Erie

Published on July 24, 2015 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


Richmond Flying Squirrels (SF) (52-45) vs. Erie SeaWolves (DET) (37-60)

Friday, July 24th -- 7:05 PM

Jerry Uht Park -- Erie, PA

Game #98 - Road Game #44

Radio: Fox Sports 910 (6:35 PM) Internet: FoxSportsRichmond.com

LHP Adalberto Mejia (4-2, 2.82) vs. LHP Josh Turley (9-6, 3.34)

Saturday, July 25th @ERI 7:05 PM RHP Joe Biagini (8-5, 1.91) vs. RHP Tommy Collier (3-0, 2.24)

Sunday, July 26th @ERI 1:35 PM RHP Tyler Beede (2-3, 3.95) vs. RHP Austin Kubitza (5-9, 6.06)

TODAY'S FEED: This day in sports: The St. Louis Cardinals acquired Matt Holiday from the Oakland Athletics for three players. (2011). This day in history: The movie, Saving Private Ryan opened in theaters (1998).

SERIES AT A GLANCE: Hunter Cole was a pivotal part of Richmond's 4-3 victory over Erie on Thursday night at Jerry Uht Park in game one of this four-game series. The 22-year-old delivered four hits and two RBI's. The bottom of the order was productive as well. The seven and eight hitters in the lineup (Myles Schroder and Juan Ciriaco) went 5-8. The Squirrels bombarded enemy territory with 14 hits, which is the most in a road game since June 5 (18 hits at New Hampshire). This is the third meeting so far this year between Erie and Richmond during the Eastern League regular season collision course. The SeaWolves grabbed two of the three contests back in the first duel (5/18-5/20). The Squirrels starting pitchers (Matt Lujan, Kyle Crick, Joe Biagini) struggled in this series and allowed 16 of the 20 runs Erie scored throughout the three days. Richmond committed four errors (tied for most in a game this year) in game three. The Squirrels returned the favor and took two of three at The Diamond in mid June (6/12-6/14). Erie enters the weekend after an absolute slugfest series with the Altoona Curve. The SeaWolves lost the final three games and this included a wild doubleheader. The Curve post 24 hits and 18 runs in game one of the twin bill. In game two, Erie swallowed a 7-1 lead in the final frame and Altoona put up seven runs in the inning to win the game. Meanwhile, Richmond is back to playing strong baseball. The Squirrels have won seven of their previous eight games and just recorded their fifth series sweep against the RubberDucks (7/20-7/22).

ALMOST IMPROBABLE: Believe it or not, the uphill climb is soon to be forgotten. The Flying Squirrels are just one game back of the first place Bowie Baysox (Baltimore Orioles). It is the closest Richmond has been to the top since April 15 when the team was just 3-3 (0.5 GB). Also since April 15, the Squirrels have only been stationed in second place for eight scattered days and that includes the last three. Richmond was as far back as 11.5 games (May 3) when the club was in the midst of a 15-game losing skid. The club is currently on a five-game winnings streak and, in addition, a season best seven games above .500 (52-45). The Squirrels were seven games above .500 on June 21 (37-30), but that is the highest of waters the team has reached this year.

LUMBERJACKS: The Squirrels have arguably the hottest hitters in the Eastern League right now. Over the last week, Richmond has four players (Rando Moreno, Hunter Cole, Austin Slater, Engel Beltre) listed in the top 15 in batting average in the league and that is the most among any other team. Hunter Cole holds a seven game hitting streak. He collected four hits during a game on Thursday for just the third time in his professional career. Cole only drove in two runs in his first 17 games with Richmond and now has six in his previous six contests. Engel Beltre is in the midst of a tremendous stretch. He extended his hitting streak to 14 games Thursday. With that, Beltre joins Mac Williamson for the longest hitting streak from a Squirrel this year. Richmond's offense has turned the corner with 55 hits in its last five games. The squad had just 19 hits in the first four games back from the All-Star vacation.

HOLDING DOWN THE FORD: The bullpen has demonstrated resiliency over the last couple of games. Joan Gregorio adjusted to a starting role for just the second time this year on July 21. The tall right-hander tossed four shutout innings and allowed just one hit. This was his longest outing of the season. Meanwhile, the rest of the relievers have absorbed only two earned runs over their last 15 innings of work (4 games). Derek Law and Tyler Mizenko have produced one save each during this timeframe. Mizenko has been the leader of the bullpen recently with zero runs in his last 8.1 innings.

SMALL BALL: Richmond has dropped down seven productive bunts in its last four games. Two of these were just pure singles and the other five were sacrifice bunts. In four of the sacrifice scenarios, the base runners have eventually come around to score after advancing up one bag. Rando Moreno leads the team with 16 sacrifice bunts. The Squirrels are 3rd in the Eastern League with 41 this season.

UPCOMING HOMESTAND PROMOTIONS: (7/30) Thursday Night In Your Face Fireworks Survivor Night & Superhero Jerseys presented by Your Local Ford Dealers. (7/31) "Up For Whatever" Night, Free Shirt Fridays and Happy Hour presented by Bud Light. (8/1) Superblast Saturday/Star Wars Night. (8/2) Kids Club Nutzy Cape Giveaway & ASK Night. (8/4) Charlottesville Community Night. (8/5) Tri-Cities Community Night, Tribute to Peanuts. (8/6) Thursday Night In Your Face Fireworks and Faith Night #2

ERIE STARTING PITCHER: LHP Josh Turley (9-6, 3.34)

Turley, 24, will be making his 18th start of the season, and third against the Squirrels. In his first start against Richmond (5/18), he went 6 innings, allowed 7 hits, and 5 runs (2 earned) as part of a 10-6 win for Erie. His second start against the Squirrels was pretty similar on June 14 (7 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 BB). The southpaw comes off his toughest start of the season with a season low four inning and a season high seven runs allowed (7/19). Turley was originally selected out of Texarkana High School in his native Texarkana, TX, in the 36th round of the 2009 draft by Milwaukee. However, he elected to pitch at Baylor instead. Three years later the Tigers grabbed him in the 16th round of the 2012 draft. He has ascended rapidly through the Detroit ranks, and arrived in Erie for the first time last year at the age of 23 in his third professional season. He made nine starts for the SeaWolves in 2014 and posted a 2-2 record with a 3.12 ERA. He had been exclusively a reliever in his first two professional seasons, and the Tigers didn't convert him to a starting role until the outset of 2014.

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Eastern League Stories from July 24, 2015


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