EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Flying Squirrels Game Notes: at Harrisburg

Published on July 3, 2015 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


Richmond Flying Squirrels (SF) (40-37) vs. Harrisburg Senators (WAS) (38-42)

Friday, July 3rd -- 7:00 PM

Metro Bank Park -- Harrisburg, PA

Game #78 - Road Game #38

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

LHP Matt Lujan (5-5, 4.32) vs. RHP Colin Bates (3-0, 3.44)

SERIES AT A GLANCE: Kelvin Marte put together a dazzling performance on the mound in game three of this four-game series to propel the Squirrels to a 2-0 win Thursday. The recently named All-Star threw eight scoreless innings (ties longest out in his career) and at one point retired 22 straight batters. Eliezer Zambrano launched his second home run of the season in the ninth, which proved to be enough to snap Harrisburg's eight-game winning streak. In game two, the Squirrels came up just short in 13 innings, 6-5, behind an exhausted bullpen. Richmond utilized six different relievers after starter Pedro Rodriguez only lasted one inning before leaving with an injury. 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). The Squirrels have the edge in this matchup as a whole. Richmond is 6-3 against this Western Division foe in 2015 and this includes three 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 11 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 2.39 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 Moreno has shown consistency all year with a .310 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: Tyler Beede preserved the bullpen arms with a seven-inning performance Tuesday against Harrisburg just before the gates opened on the relief pitchers. The bullpen took a major toll Wednesday as six different pitchers were used in a 13-inning marathon. 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. 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). Derek Law was the only reliever used Thursday thanks to Marte's eight spotless frames and he recorded three strikeouts in just one inning of work.

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 1.5 games out of the newly 3rd place Akron Rubberducks (Cleveland Indians). Richmond collected its 40th win Thursday (7/2). Last season, the club picked up win number 40 on June 15.

RUN PRODUCERS: Since the departure of Mac Williamson to Triple-A Sacramento, the middle of the lineup has struggled to adjust. Williamson left as the team's second best run producer with 42 RBI's and hit an impressive .293 with runners in scoring position. Devin Harris and Ricky Oropesa continue to cement themselves in the four and five slots respectively in the lineup. Harris is hitting just .244 with runners in scoring position and only has one RBI in his last seven games. Also, he has seven strikeouts in the previous three games. Meanwhile, Oropesa does not have any RBI's since June 23 and is just two for his last 27 at the plate. However, Hunter Cole is making a presence in what used to be Williamson's three spot in the order. The 22-year old is 7-17 since joining the Squirrels on June 26.

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 Colin Bates (3-0, 3.44)

Bates will make his 16th appearance on the season for the Senators, but just his sixth start. The 27-year-old was drafted in the 23rd round in 2010 by the Nationals out of North Carolina and has been typically a relief pitcher during his entire career (151 appearances and 18 starts). Bates is currently playing in his second season in Double-A with Harrisburg, and that is the highest level he has reached so far. He made just one start in 2014 and produced a 3.81 ERA out of the bullpen. The Illinois native came out of the bullpen in six games against the Squirrels last year and went at least three innings in three of those outings. He has faced Richmond once this year on June 17 (2 IP).

Check out the Richmond Flying Squirrels Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Eastern League Stories from July 3, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central