EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Flying Squirrels Game Notes: at Harrisburg

Published on June 16, 2015 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


Richmond Flying Squirrels (SF) (32-28)

vs.

Harrisburg Senators (WAS) (27-35)

Tuesday, June 16th -- 7:00 PM

Metro Bank Park -- Harrisburg, PA

Game #61 - Road Game #30

Radio: Fox Sports 910 (6:30 PM) Internet: FoxSportsRichmond.com

RHP Joe Biagini (5-3, 1.76) vs. RHP Austin Voth (3-4, 3.56)

SERIES AT A GLANCE: The Squirrels just concluded a six-game homestand and went 4-2 before getting the day off on Monday. Three of these six games were decided by one run. Richmond grabbed two out of three games from both the Portland Sea Dogs and the Erie SeaWolves. They are 10-1-1 in their last 12 series, with the lone series split coming against the Reading Fightin Phils in Baseballtown. Richmond was foiled for the third time this season in an attempt to match the franchise-record with a seventh consecutive victory against Portland in the finale of the first series of the homestand last Thursday. The Squirrels are 10-3 in the month of June. Richmond hits the road tonight for a brief trip to Harrisburg, PA for a three-game series with the Senators. This marks the first of three trips the Squirrels will make to Metro Bank Park this season. The two clubs met earlier this year at The Diamond (5/26-5/28) and Richmond swept Harrisburg. Richmond outscored the Senators 21-5 in those three games. This included a 12-0 victory (2nd shutout win this year), which tied for the most runs scored in a game this season. The Squirrels also topped the record books in that contest as they had a franchise best eight hits in one inning. These teams will meet 17 times for the rest of the regular season. Harrisburg began June with a 1-8 record, but is currently riding a five game winning streak into tonight. The Senators are last in team batting average in the Eastern League (.242).

ABOVE THE FOLD: Richmond climbed to four games above .500 (30-26) last Wednesday for the first time this season. Last year, April 17th was the first time the team reached four games over .500 (9-5). They are back to four games above .500 now (32-28) and entering today sit just one game behind the Bowie Baysox (Baltimore Orioles) for second place in the Western Division. They trail division-leading Altoona (Pittsburgh Pirates) by 4.5 games, which isn't too shabby when you consider that the Squirrels were a season-worst 11.5 games back on May 3rd following the final loss in their 15-game losing skid. Richmond is a league-best 29-11 since that date.

ACTIVE ARMS FROM THE BULLPEN: It has been a busy time for the relief pitching in the RVA. In the recent six-game homestand, Richmond relievers logged a total of 26.2 innings. This includes two lengthy appearances from individual arms. In the opener of the homestand on June 9, Kelvin Marte took over for Matt Cain, who was making a rehab start, and went four innings out of the bullpen. In the finale against Portland on June 11, Pedro Rodriguez completed 4.1 innings of relief (second longest outing from a reliever) and gave up just two hits, no runs, and recorded five strikeouts. During the 10 game roadtrip prior to this stint at The Diamond, the Squirrels bullpen tossed 29 innings, only 2.1 innings more than this homestand, which lasted just six games.

YOU GOTTA KNOW YOUR LIMITS: The good news is the Squirrels are a league-best 29-11 since May 3rd and three times during that span they have recorded six consecutive wins. The bad news is, Richmond has now failed in three attempts to match the franchise-record for consecutive wins (7), which was established in April of 2010. Most recently, the Squirrels were foiled on Wednesday night losing a late lead to Portland and falling, 5-4. They also came up short while looking for a seventh consecutive win on May 10th, falling at home to Bowie, 2-0, and on May 30th, losing 4-3 to Reading in Baseballtown.

STRONG OPENING REMARKS: Richmond starting pitching was tremendous during the Squirrels' last road trip, which was the longest in franchise history. Richmond starters threw 58.1 innings on the trip. They collectively allowed just 10 earned runs, while on three occasions a starting pitcher lasted at least seven innings. The starters compiled a record of 5-0 on the trip, while sporting an ERA of 1.54. Due to mid-trip promotions for LHP Jack Snodgrass and RHP Chris Stratton, the Squirrels used eight different starting pitchers on the trip.

STRONG OPENING REMARKS TAKE TWO: The Squirrels have developed a habit of getting off to fast starts this season, and currently have outscored their opposition by 30 runs in the first two innings. The hold a 34-18 advantage in the first inning (+16) and a 33-15 edge (+18) in the second inning. However, the 7th inning has been the team's most prolific frame as they have scored 38 runs in that stanza. The 8th inning has been the most troublesome for Richmond as they been outscored 32-22 (-10) in the 8th inning.

SAVING THE DAY: Squirrels' closer Josh Osich has been a busy man in June. The left-hander has appeared in eight of Richmond's previous 13 games. During that span, he has tossed eight innings (one per outing), given up just three hits, one run and racked up 9 strikeouts. In three of his last four outings, he has not allowed a baserunner. Osich also recorded his 16th save Friday against Erie, which is good for the second-most in the Eastern League.

AN HONOR FOR OROPESA: 1B Ricky Oropesa was named as the Eastern League Player of the Month for the month of May. The award was announced by the league office on Friday afternoon. Oropesa batted .343 (37-108) during the month, notching 8 2Bs, 6 HRs and 25 RBIs. During the course of the month, the USC-product raised his batting average from .135 at the end of April to .275 at the close of May. The award is the first monthly award for Oropesa in his third year in the Eastern League.

UPCOMING HOMESTAND PROMOTIONS: (6/19) Free Shirt Fridays & Happy Hour presented by Floor & Decor. (6/20) Fireworks/Military Night/Camo Cooler Tube Giveaway presented by Budweiser. (6/21) Father's Day Grill Spatula Giveaway presented by Your Local Ford Dealers. (6/22) Mommy & Me Day at The Diamond. (6/23) Golden Girls Tribute/Betty White's 1/2 Birthday. (6/24) ZOOperstars! Appearance. (6/25) Fireworks/The Many Faces of Robin Williams Jersey Auction presented by Your Local Ford Dealers. (6/26) Free Shirt Fridays & Happy Hour presented by Coke Zero/Girl Scout Sleepover.

HARRISBURG STARTING PITCHER: Austin Voth (3-4, 3.56)

Voth will make his first ever start against the Squirrels and 12th this year. He has gone at least six innings in his last three starts and has registered eight strikeouts twice in two of those games. He has 62 strikeouts this season, which is third best in the Eastern League. The right-hander spent most of his time in 2014 with Hagerstown A(Full) and Potomac A(Adv). Voth's final five starts came with AA Harrisburg. He finished with a 2.77 ERA with these three clubs. The 23-year-old was drafted in the fifth round by the Nationals in 2013. After the 2014 season, Baseball America ranked Voth as the 11th best prospect in Washington's system. Austin is from Redmond, WA and played his college ball at the University of Washington. Voth recorded 98 strikeouts for the Huskies in his senior year and that is good for seventh most all time in program history for one season.

Check out the Richmond Flying Squirrels Statistics

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Eastern League Stories from June 16, 2015


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