EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Flying Squirrels Game Notes: at Harrisburg

Published on July 2, 2015 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


Richmond Flying Squirrels (SF) (39-37) vs. Harrisburg Senators (WAS) (38-41)

Thursday, July 2nd -- 7:00 PM

Metro Bank Park -- Harrisburg, PA

Game #77 - Road Game #37

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

LHP Kelvin Marte (6-1, 2.73) vs. RHP Austin Voth (3-5, 3.69)

SERIES AT A GLANCE: After an extensive 13 innings Wednesday night, the Squirrels came up just short, 6-5, behind an exhausted bullpen in the second game of this four-game series. Richmond utilized six different relievers after starter Pedro Rodriguez only lasted one inning before leaving with an injury. It is the first time since May 31 (five relievers) that the club had to summon close to that many arms from the bullpen in a game. The game lasted four hours and five minutes, which is now documented as the longest road game for the Squirrels this season. Richmond also dropped the opener, 2-0, as the bats went dormant against the Senators. The lineup had recorded just one run in 38 of their previous 39 innings following this game. Tuesday was the fourth shutout loss for Richmond in its last five games to conclude June. Tyler Beede threw seven impressive innings for the Squirrels, which normally would place the club on victory lane. It marked the first time this season Richmond lost a game in which their starter lasted seven innings (8-1 record). These two clubs collide for a four-game series and both are playing an entirely different brand of baseball. Richmond has experienced defeat in five of its previous six contests. Meanwhile, Harrisburg has found the win column in its last eight games, which is the longest winning streak compiled this year for this squad. The Squirrels have the edge in this matchup as a whole. Richmond is 5-3 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. This matchup will occur 12 more times during the regular season (three more series after this one). 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.

"HEY NOW, YOU'RE AN ALL-STAR": Eastern League All-Star Game rosters were announced Wednesday and the Squirrels will send four players and three coaches from their staff. RHP Joe Biagini, LHP Kelvin Marte, INF Rando Moreno, and 1B Ricky Oropesa all earned the invitations to the game, which takes place in Portland, ME (Home of the Sea Dogs) on July 15. Biagini holds an ERA of 2.01 and that is good for fourth best in the league. He is also limiting hitters to a measly .216 average and that is the third lowest from any starter. The right-hander produced a stellar outing on June 16 against Harrisburg with a season high eight scoreless innings. Marte has served time as a reliever and starter this season. The southpaw currently sports a 1.69 ERA out of the bullpen and 3.15 as a starter. With most of the production gone from Triple-A promotions, Moreno and Oropesa headline the offense. Oropesa hit .343 in May to capture Eastern League Player of the Month and Morneo has shown consistency all year with a .297 average (best on the team). Moreno also homered for the first time this year and recorded his fourth three-hit game Wednesday. Manager Jose Alguacil, hitting coach Kenny Joyce, and trainer David Getsoff receive the responsibility as coaches for the game in honor of the Western Division crown in 2014.

A MUCH NEEDED BREATHER: The arms out of the bullpen should be thankful for the washouts this past weekend. 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. Tyler Beede preserved the bullpen arms with a seven-inning performance Tuesday against Harrisburg. However, the bullpen did take a toll Wednesday as six different pitchers were used. Joan Gregorio tossed three innings, allowed just one run, and registered five strikeouts. Kyle Crick made his first bullpen appearance of the year and only lasted 0.2 innings (three walks). Tyler Mizenko was tagged with the loss yesterday, but operated around a bases loaded, no out jam in the 11th inning. In total, the bullpen logged 11 innings in this game and allowed six earned runs. To make quite the comparison, Richmond worked 15 innings out of the bullpen and let up two earned runs in the entire four-game series against Trenton (6/23-6/27).

MIDDLE OF THE PACK: The Squirrels were 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 2.5 games out of the newly 3rd place Akron Rubberducks (Cleveland Indians).

SQUIRRELS LEAVING THE NEST: There are plenty of fresh faces on the Richmond roster as of last 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: RHP Austin Voth (3-5, 3.69)

Voth prepares for his 15th start this season and second against the Squirrels. He was efficient against Richmond on June 16 (7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 K). Voth's arsenal consists of strikeouts and he has 78 this year which is the third most in the league (just 18 walks). 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 last year. 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 July 2, 2015


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