EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Flying Squirrels Game Notes at New Britain

Published on August 15, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


Richmond Flying Squirrels (61-61) vs. New Britain Rock Cats (66-56)

Wednesday, August 15th -- 7:05 PM

New Britain Stadium -- New Britain, CT

Game # 123 - Road Game # 63

Radio: Sports Radio 910 AM (6:35 PM) Internet: sportsradio910.com

RHP Justin Fitzgerald (7-7, 3.60) vs. RHP B. J. Hermsen (10-5, 3.09)

SERIES AT A GLANCE: The Flying Squirrels will attempt to bounce back with a win when they take on the New Britain Rock Cats in game two of a three-game set at New Britain Stadium tonight. Last night, Deibinson Romero went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs and Logan Darnell (9-10) allowed just one earned run in 6.2 innings pitched as New Britain defeated the Flying Squirrels 5-1 in the series opener. The Rock Cats built a 5-0 lead through the first six innings before Richmond scored a run in the top of the seventh. Squirrels starter Mike Kickham (10-9) allowed eight hits and four earned runs in 4.2 innings of work and took the loss. Juan Perez went 2-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to 18 games, which is the second-longest hit streak in the Eastern League this season. The Flying Squirrels went 8-7 against New Britain in 2011 including a 4-4 mark at The Diamond. Richmond is 19-20 all-time against the Rock Cats and the club is 8-10 all-time in the Hardware City. The two teams will meet 14 times in 2012, seven times in New Britain and seven times in Richmond. The Rock Cats claimed the opening series by winning three out of four games between the clubs at New Britain Stadium (4/5-4/7). Richmond won two out three from the Rock Cats at The Diamond (4/27-4/29). New Britain swept Richmond in a four-game series at The Diamond (6/22-6/25).

TODAY'S PITCHERS: RHP Justin Fitzgerald vs. RHP B. J. Hermsen Fitzgerald: Makes his twenty-fifth start of the season for the Flying Squirrels tonight. In his last start, Fitzgerald allowed three hits and one earned run and he issued four walks and recorded two strikeouts in seven innings pitched against Harrisburg Thursday.

He received a no-decision in Richmond's 2-1 triumph in 13 innings. Tonight's game will be Fitzgerald's seventh career start against New Britain. He is 2-2 with a 3.27 ERA against the Rock Cats. He is currently fourth in the Eastern League in innings pitched (137.1). Last season, Fitzgerald went 9-9 and posted a 3.51 ERA in a team-high 27 starts with Richmond. He also led the 2011 Flying Squirrels pitching staff in innings pitched (146.1), finished second on the club in wins (9) and walks allowed (55) and third in strikeouts (111). As a result, Fitzgerald was named an Eastern League Mid-Season All-Star. He also posted a 1-0 mark with a 2.70 ERA in two playoff starts and earned the win in the clinching game of Richmond's sweep of Harrisburg in the Western Division Championship Series. In 2010, he posted a 10-6 record with a 3.45 ERA in 26 appearances, including 25 starts, with Advanced-A San Jose and earned a spot on the California League Mid-Season All-Star team. Fitzgerald owns a 29-24 record with a 3.55 ERA in 133 career minor league appearances, including 76 starts. The Santa Rosa, Calif. native was selected by the Giants in the 11th round of the 2008 June Draft out of UC-Davis.

Hermsen: Makes his twenty-third start of the season and his nineteenth start for New Britain tonight. Hermsen opened the season with Advanced-A Fort Myers, where he went 1-0 with a 0.78 ERA in four starts. Since being promoted to New Britain, Hermsen has posted an 10-5 record with a 3.09 ERA in eighteen starts. In his last start, Hermsen allowed ten hits and one earned run along with one walk and four strikeouts in nine innings pitched against Reading Friday. He earned his tenth win New Britain's 5-1 setback. Tonight's game will be his second career start against the Flying Squirrels. He is 0-0 with a 2.84 ERA against Richmond.

Hermsen boasts a career record of 36-23 with a 3.17 ERA in 78 appearances, including 75 starts. He was selected by the Twins in the sixth round of the 2008 June Draft out of West Delaware High School in Manchester, Iowa.

THE REAL DON JUAN: With a 2-for-4 night at the plate against New Britain in the series opener, Flying Squirrels' outfielder Juan Perez has now hit safely in 18 consecutive games, which is the second-longest hit streak in the Eastern League this season.

Akron's Chun Chen had a 20-game hit streak from May 28 through June 16. Perez is batting .397 (29-for-73) with three home runs, four doubles, three triples and 12 RBIs over the course of the streak. In 12 games against New Britain this season, Perez is batting .313 (5-for-16) with two home runs and four RBIs. In his career against the Rock Cats, Perez is hitting .264 (19-for-72) with two home runs, four doubles and five RBIs in 27 games (2011-12).

EXCELLENT EHIRE: In addition to Perez, Richmond shortstop Ehire Adrianza kept his hit streak alive with a 1-for-4 night at the plate against the Rock Cats last night. Adrianza has now hit safely in ten consecutive games and he is third Flying Squirrel to record a hit streak of ten games or more this season along with Perez and Gary Brown, who has posted two 12-game hit streaks.

Adrianza is batting .300 (12-for-40) with five doubles, one triple and five runs scored during the streak.

EXTRA, EXTRA: Richmond's 1-0 triumph over Bowie in 10 innings on Sunday night was the club's 13th extra-innings win this season, which leads the Eastern League. Additionally, with a record of 13-2, Richmond owns the league's best winning percentage in extra-innings games this season (. 867). With a record of 9-5, Trenton has the circuit's next highest winning percentage in extra-innings games (.643) in 2012.

Check out the Richmond Flying Squirrels Statistics

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Eastern League Stories from August 15, 2012


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