EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Flying Squirrels Game Notes: at Harrisburg

June 30, 2015 - Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


Richmond Flying Squirrels (SF) (39-35) vs. Harrisburg Senators (WAS) (36-41)

Tuesday, June 30th -- 7:00 PM

Metro Bank Park -- Harrisburg, PA

Game #75 - Road Game #35

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

RHP Tyler Beede (1-2, 5.01) vs. LHP Richard Bleier (5-2, 3.13)

SERIES AT A GLANCE: After another overnight bus trip, the Squirrels arrive in Harrisburg to face off against the red hot Senators. These two clubs collide for a four-game series and both enter playing an entirely different brand of baseball. Richmond experienced defeat in four of its previous five contests. This included a stretch of 29 scoreless innings from the offense. Meanwhile, Harrisburg has found the win column in its last six games, which is the longest winning streak compiled this year. The Squirrels have the edge in this matchup. Richmond is 5-1 against this Western Division foe in 2015 and this includes two shutout victories. The 12-0 shutout win for the Squirrels on May 27 featured an eight run inning with a franchise record eight hits during that frame. As a whole, the Senators have produced just a .197 batting average during the six games against Richmond. The bullpen for the Squirrels has found success so far against the Senators with 24.2 innings and only two earned runs allowed. This matchup will occur 14 more times during the regular season (three more series). Richmond hosts Harrisburg for two of them (7/7-7/9, 8/24-8/26).

MINOR SETBACK WITH A BIZARRE STRETCH: Richmond lost four straight games in a span of six days (6/23-6/29), which was the longest losing streak since the 15 game skid (4/15-5/3). There was some serious inclement weather that invaded the Northeast and seriously put a twist to the beginning of this road trip in New Britain. The Squirrels and Rock Cats were suspended in game one of this series after three scoreless frames on Saturday due to heavy rain. They were supposed to resume action Sunday and in addition play the second game, but, again, a torrential downpour forced another postponement. So, Richmond and New Britain audibled for a shortened two-game series Monday (scrapping the third game). In the resumption of the suspended game, the Squirrels dealt with their third consecutive shutout loss despite outhitting the Rock Cats 5-3. This marked the first time in franchise history Richmond had been blanked in three straight games. The tides turned a bit in game two. Rando Moreno delivered a go-ahead two run double in the seventh inning, which propelled the team to a 2-1 win. Down to their final out (in just a seven inning game), Moreno not only gave the Squirrels the lead, but also broke the scoreless streak. The Squirrels began June with a league best 12-3, but with recent transactions, it is a new-look squad that is trying to find some identity. They are 2-5 in their last seven games. This is a club that has outscored opponents by 37 runs in the first two innings this year.

RELIEVED RELIVERS: The arms out of the bullpen should be thankful for the washouts this weekend. Richmond relievers tossed a total of 15 innings in the series against Trenton (7/23-7/26). They utilized eight different pitchers through this four-game span and only absorbed two earned runs. This included two impressive individual performances. Phil McCormick motored his way through 2.1 scoreless innings Wednesday and fanned a season high five hitters. It is the fifth time this year a Richmond reliever has registered five strikeouts in an appearance. On Thursday, Joan Gregorio delivered another impressive performance after Kyle Crick's departure. Gregorio tossed a season high 3.1 scoreless innings. In addition to the unexpected off day Sunday, the relievers received more help. The starting staff for the Squirrels logged 12 of the 15 innings during the brief two-game series Monday against New Britain.

MIDDLE OF THE PACK: The Squirrels have been in 3rd place in the Western Division for 24 days in June. There was a small span of time (6/17-6/19) where Richmond held a share of second place for the first time since being 3-3 on April 15. The team dropped to fourth place following Monday's action for the first time since May 19. The Squirrels are 4.5 games back of the Bowie Baysox (Baltimore Orioles) and just a half game out of the newly 3rd place Akron Rubberducks (Cleveland Indians).

MEAT OF THE ORDER: Devin Harris and Ricky Oropesa have been up and down through June. Harris is batting just .177 since the calendar turned, but has managed to remain at the top of the Eastern League with 23 doubles this year. The 27-year-old has not compiled a hitting-streak longer than two games in June. He also has only recorded three RBI's during a span of 13 games (6/6-6/23). However, Harris did launch two home runs in one game Wednesday night to become the first Squirrels player to accomplish that in 2015. Lastly, Oropesa has swung the hot and cold bat in June with a .294 average. This includes eight multi-hit games, which is the most on the team during this month. The first baseman collected eight hits and posted six RBI's during the recent nine-game homestand, but is just one for his last 19 at the plate.

SQUIRRELS LEAVING THE NEST: There are plenty of fresh faces on the Richmond roster as of Friday after many players earned promotions. Kelby Tomlinson, Mac Williamson, and Josh Osich moved to Triple-A Sacramento. Tomlinson leaves as the Eastern League's leading hitter (.324). Williamson departs after a splendid performance in the middle of the order. The 24-year-old drove in 42 runs (second best on the team) for Richmond in 71 games. He also hold the Squirrels longest hitting (14 games) and on-base streaks (21 games) this season. Osich exits the RVA tied for the league lead in saves with 19. The Giants also sent down Angel Villalona to San Jose (A+) after he hit just .148 in 28 games plus some time on the Disabled List. LHP Braulio Lara, OF Hunter Cole, INF Juan Ciriaco, and OF Austin Slater are set to join Richmond. Slater and Cole are both just in their second professional seasons. Cole comes in hitting .307 along with 42 RBI's combined for Augusta (A) and San Jose (A+). Slater has spent all of his time in 2015 with San Jose (.292 average). Meanwhile Lara and Ciriaco join the Squirrels as more of a veteran presence. Lara, 26, was once with the Tampa Bay Rays organization until this past offseason and has reached as high as the Triple-A level. Ciriaco, 31, played in Richmond during 2012 and the inaugural 2010 season.

UPCOMING HOMESTAND PROMOTIONS: (7/4) Independence Day Celebration Fireworks. (7/5) Independence Day Part 2 Kids Club Fireworks. (7/6) Road to the Revolution - Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death. (7/7) Hunter Strickland American Flag Vest Bobblehead Giveaway (2,000 All Ages). (7/8) Doug E. Fresh Appearance(7/9) Fireworks/90's Game Show Night presented by Your Local Ford Dealers.

HARRISBURG STARTING PITCHER: Richard Bleier (5-2, 3.13)

Bleier will make his 11th start for the Senators and second against the Squirrels in 2015. The southpaw has thrown at least seven innings in his last three starts. The Florida native has displayed solid control with only six walks compared to 32 strikeouts while compiling the second most innings pitched on the team this year (69.0). However, he struggled against Richmond on May 27 and allowed a season high eight runs in one inning. The 28-year-old is extremely experienced in Double-A. He has pitched at this level for the last five years along with a scattered 13 games at the Triple-A level throughout this same timeframe. All told the lefty has made 161 Double-A appearances over the last five seasons. He was originally a 6th round selection of the Texas Rangers out of Gulf Coast University in the 2008 MLB draft. He spent the first six seasons of his professional career in the Rangers organization, reaching as high as Triple-A Round Rock. He spent last year in the Toronto chain, spending the bulk of his year with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Bleier signed as a minor league free agent with the Nationals prior to the 2015 season. He made four additional appearances - three starts - for Syracuse (AAA) in 2015, and pitched well in the International League (1-1, 2.93).




Eastern League Stories from June 30, 2015


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