EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Flying Squirrels Game Notes at Portland

Published on June 8, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


Richmond Flying Squirrels (28-32) vs. Portland Sea Dogs (25-34)

Friday, June 8th -- 7:00 PM

Hadlock Field -- Portland, ME

Game # 61 - Road Game # 33

Radio: Sports Radio 910 AM (6:30 PM) Internet: sportsradio910.com

LHP Mike Kickham (4-5, 3.31) vs. RHP Anthony Ranaudo (1-1, 6.86)

SERIES AT A GLANCE: The Flying Squirrels will look to continue a successful road trip when they take on the Portland Sea Dogs in the opener of a three-game series at Hadlock Field tonight. After dropping a suspended game from June 6 to New Hampshire by a 3-0 score last night, the Flying Squirrels rebounded to win the series finale 6-3. Richmond starter Chris Heston allowed seven hits and a season-high three earned runs along with a walk and six strikeouts en route to earning a complete game victory in the seven-inning contest. Joel Weeks smacked a three-run home run off Fisher Cats starter Deck McGuire in the top of the fourth, which gave Richmond a commanding 6-0 lead. Heston yielded three runs in the bottom of the seventh as Sean Ochinko ripped a two-run double and Mark Sobolewski added an RBI single, The Flying Squirrels went 4-2 against Portland in 2011 including a 2-1 mark in Portland. Richmond is 8-4 all-time against the Sea Dogs. Richmond is 4-2 all-time in Portland. The two teams will meet six times in 2012, three times in Portland and three times in Richmond. Following this three-game series, the Flying Squirrels and the Fisher Cats will meet again in Richmond in next week (6/15-6/17).

TODAY'S PITCHERS: LHP Mike Kickham vs. RHP Anthony Ranaudo Kickham: Makes his twelfth start of the season for the Flying Squirrels tonight. In his last start, Kickham allowed two hits and no runs and matched his career-high with seven scoreless innings pitched against Erie Saturday. He earned a complete game victory in the seven-inning ballgame, which Richmond won 5-0. Tonight's game will be Kickham's first career start against the Sea Dogs. He is currently fourth in the Eastern League in walks (30). Last season, Kickham went 5-10 and posted a 4.11 ERA in 21 starts with Low-A Augusta. He entered the 2012 season ranked as the #20 prospect in the Giants farm system. As a professional, Kickham owns an 9-15 record with a 3.97 ERA in 35 career minor league appearances, including 32 starts. Kickham enjoyed a successful, albeit brief, career at Missouri State University, where he finished fifth in school history in single-season strikeouts (106) and won the team's Dave Dickensheet Pitcher-of-the-Year award in his lone season with the Bears. The St. Louis, MO native was selected by the Giants in the sixth round of the 2010 June Draft as a draft-eligible sophomore. He signed with San Francisco for a $410,000 bonus.

Ranaudo: Makes his fi fth start of the season tonight. In his last start, Ranaudo allowed seven hits and three earned runs along with a walk and four strikeouts in 5.0 innings pitched at Altoona Saturday. He earned his first win of the season in Portland's 5-3 triumph. The right-hander split the 2011 season between Low-A Greenville and Advanced-A Salem. He posted a combined 9-6 record with a 3.97 ERA in 26 starts. Tonight's game will be his first career start against Richmond. He has a career minor league record of 10-7 with a 4.36 ERA in 30 starts. He was selected by Boston in the first round of the 2010 June Draft out of Louisiana State University.

SHUTOUTS: Last night's 3-0 setback in the completion of the suspended game from June 6 was the 13th shutout the Flying Squirrels have been involved in this season. With the loss, Richmond is now 7-6 in shutouts in 2012. No other team in the Eastern League has been involved in as many shutouts as Richmond has this season. The Flying Squirrels' seven shutout wins are the most of any Eastern League team, ahead of the Akron Aeros, which own a 6-1 mark in shutout games in 2012. Richmond has already won two shutouts in June as the Flying Squirrels blanked Erie 5-0 in a seven-inning contest on June 2nd.

THE GREAT GLOOR: Flying Squirrels reliever Chris Gloor continues to shine on the mound. He was tossed a scoreless frame last night. Gloor has now worked nine consecutive scoreless outings, consisting of 18 scoreless innings, which matches Brett Bochy for the longest scoreless innings streak of the season by a Richmond pitcher.

RAGIN' CAJUN: Last night, Flying Squirrels starter Craig Westcott won his third consecutive start and improved to 6-4 on the season. The Chalmette, LA native is now 4-2 with a 2.72 ERA (12 ER/39.2 IP) in his last six starts. He has won six of his last eight starts and has recorded six quality starts (six innings or more, three or fewer earned runs allowed). Additionally, Westcott is now batting .364 (4-for-11) with one home run and three RBIs this season.

THE REAL DON JUAN: Juan Perez enjoyed a stellar night at the plate for Richmond last night. Perez went a combined 3-for-6 with a double, a triple, an RBI and a stolen base in the ballgames. Perez is now batting .343 (12-for-35) with a home run, two doubles, one triple and five RBIs in his last ten games.

Check out the Richmond Flying Squirrels Statistics

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Eastern League Stories from June 8, 2012


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