Flying Squirrels Game Notes: at New Hampshire
Published on June 5, 2015 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release
Richmond Flying Squirrels (SF) (25-26) vs. New Hampshire Fisher Cats (TOR) (26-27)
Friday, June 5th -- 7:05 PM
Northeast Delta Dental Stadium -- Manchester, NH
Game #52 - Road Game #27
Radio: Fox Sports 910 (6:35 PM) Internet: FoxSportsRichmond.com
RHP Tyler Beede (0-0, ---) vs. RHP Taylor Cole (2-4, 5.07)
SERIES AT A GLANCE: The Squirrels open the final series of their three-city, 10-game road trip, which is the longest road trip in franchise history. Richmond is making their only visit to Northeast Delta Dental Stadium, and will meet the Fisher Cats just six times during the regular season. New Hampshire will make their only trip to Richmond for a three-game series August 4th through August 6th. The Squirrels hold an 18-12 advantage in the all-time series, as the two teams have met six times in each of Richmond's first five seasons in the league. However, the Fisher Cats claimed their last Eastern League title in 2011 by defeating the Flying Squirrels three games to one in the Eastern League Championship Series. Giants' 2014 first round draft pick RHP Tyler Beede makes his much anticipated Double-A debut tonight. He is matched with New Hampshire RHP Taylor Cole.
APRIL SHOWERS BROUGHT MAY WINS: After suffering through the worst month in franchise-history, and posting a dismal record of 3-14 in April, the Squirrels matched the most successful month the franchise has ever had in the very next month. Richmond finished 19-11. Their19 wins equaled the franchise-record for wins in a month, which has now been accomplished three times. Last year, the Squirrels went 19-10 in June and followed that up with an 18-11 July to pull away in the Western Division. In 2011, the Squirrels used a 19-12 month of July to pull back into the playoff race. In each of those seasons, the Squirrels advanced to the Eastern League Championship Series.
I'M FRIGHTENED BY BATS: The Squirrels were somewhat saddened to see May go, as they posted the Eastern League's highest team average in the month (.278 - 289-1038). Richmond hit a league-worst .209 (121-579) during the month of April. Five Richmond regulars batted better than .300 in May with 1B Ricky Oropesa leading the way (.343). The others were OF Mac Williamson (.339), OF Devin Harris (.330), INF Kelby Tomlinson (.324) and INF Rando Moreno (.302). The Squirrels are currently batting .244 (33-135) through four games in June.
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.
HARRIS EARNS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: On Monday, the Eastern League announced that OF Devin Harris had been named EL Player of the Week for the week of 5/25-5/31. During the week, Harris hit .370 (10-27) with 2 2Bs, 2 HRs, 10 RBIs and 9 runs scored. The Squirrels went 5-2 during the week as well. Harris' honor is the first garnered by a Flying Squirrel this season.
WHO'S THE NEW GUY, AND WHERE DID JACK GO?: The Squirrels have had quite a roster makeover during their curent 10-game road trip. On Tuesday, LHP Jack Snodgrass finally received his first promotion to Triple-A Sacramento. Snodgrass left as the Squirrels all-time leader in wins (27). He was named Squirrels' Pitcher of the Year in each of the last two seasons. Snodgrass had a travel partner as RHP Chris Stratton also was promoted to Sacramento. Then on Wednesday, the Giants promoted OF Ryan Lollis as well. RHP Tyler Mizenko was reinstated from the Disabled List on Tuesday and OF Engel Beltre joined the team from Extended Spring Training on Wednesday. LHP Adalberto Mejia was added to the roster Thursday from Extended Spring Training, and RHP Tyler Beede was added from San Jose (A+) on Friday. To make room, RHP Joan Gregorio was placed on the Disabled List with Patella Tendonitis.
UPCOMING HOMESTAND PROMOTIONS: (6/9) Kids Thermos Giveaway presented by Martin's (6/10) Middle Child Night (6/11) Fireworks!/Tribute to Meat presented by Your Local Ford Dealers (6/12) Free Shirt Fridays & Happy Hour presented by Village Bank/Boy Scout Sleepover (6/13) Fireworks!/Swim Team Jersey Auction presented by Towne Bank (6/14) Kids Club Shovel & Pail Giveaway presented by Coca-Cola.
RICHMOND STARTING PITCHER: RHP Tyler Beede (0-0, ---)
The San Francisco Giants' first round selection in the 2014 draft, Beede makes his much-anticipated Double-A debut. The 22-year old forced his promotion to Richmond by going 2-2 with a 2.24 ERA across nine starts with San Jose (A+). 2015 marks his first full professional season, and he had made just six professional appearances prior to the season. Four of those came in the Arizona Rookie League, while the other two were at Short-Season Salem-Keizer. The Giants tabbed Beede with the 14th overall selection last year and signed him for $2.6 million dollars. He was selected out of high school with the 21st overall pick by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2011, but did not sign. He instead pitched collegiately for Vanderbilt for three seasons. He is presently rated as the #2 prospect in the San Francisco system by Baseball America.
NEW HAMPSHIRE STARTING PITCHER: RHP Taylor Cole (2-4, 5.07)
Cole, 25, was a 29th round selection of the Blue Jays in the 2011 draft out of Brigham Young University (BYU). He had previously been drafted by both the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers, but did not sign either time. He is currently in his fifth professional season, and opened at the Double-A level for the first time. He spent the bulk of 2014 with Advanced-A Dunedin, making 24 appearances - 23 starts - and posting a record of 8-9 with an ERA of 3.07. He did make two starts for the Fisher Cats last season. He will make his 11th start of the season tonight, currently conceding a .317 average to the Eastern League. He faces the Squirrels for the first time in his career.
Eastern League Stories from June 5, 2015
- Creasy Improves to 7-0 as Curve Edge SeaWolves, 4-3 - Altoona Curve
- Hobson Homers, Burns Strikes out Side in Defeat - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- 'Wolves Drop Series Opener to Curve - Erie SeaWolves
- Baysox Use Eighth-Inning Rally to Upend Sea Dogs 5-3 - Portland Sea Dogs
- Conforto Clutch in 8-7 Win - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Martinez 2-RBI Single Gives Baysox Opener - Chesapeake Baysox
- RubberDucks Sneak by New Britain 2-1 - Akron RubberDucks
- Squirrels Beede-Azzle Cats in Opener, 12-1 - Richmond Flying Squirrels
- Walk-off double stings Fightins - Reading Fightin Phils
- Rock Cats Battle, Fall at Home to Akron 2-1 - New Britain Rock Cats
- Thunder Take Sixth Straight Win - Trenton Thunder
- AutoFair "Make the Grade" Announces Winner - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Senators Come up Short in Trenton, Fall 4-3 - Harrisburg Senators
- Matt Cain Set to Rehab in Richmond Tuesday - Richmond Flying Squirrels
- Rayvon Owen Joins Squirrels Lineup on June 13 - Richmond Flying Squirrels
- Brendan Ryan Joins Thunder - Trenton Thunder
- B-Mets Game Notes: Game #54- B-Mets (26-27) vs. Reading Fightin Phils (29-24) - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Oropesa Earns Player of the Month Award - Richmond Flying Squirrels
- Richmond's Ricky Oropesa Named May Player of the Month - EL1
- Flying Squirrels Game Notes: at New Hampshire - Richmond Flying Squirrels
- Sea Dogs Game Notes June 5 vs. Bowie (Game 55) - Portland Sea Dogs
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