EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Flying Squirrels Game Notes at Portland

Published on June 9, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


Richmond Flying Squirrels (28-33) vs. Portland Sea Dogs (26-34)

Saturday, June 9th -- 6:00 PM

Hadlock Field -- Portland, ME

Game # 62 - Road Game # 34

Radio: Sports Radio 910 AM (5:30 PM) Internet: sportsradio910.com

RHP Justin Fitzgerald (3-4, 4.87) vs. LHP Chris Hernandez (2-5, 3.21)

SERIES AT A GLANCE: The Flying Squirrels will attempt to even the three-game series at one game apiece when they take on the Portland Sea Dogs in game two of the series at Hadlock Field tonight. Portland's Jeremy Hazelbaker belted a three-run home run off Richmond reliever Jake Dunning in the bottom of the seventh in last night's game, which snapped a 1-1 tie and enabled the Sea Dogs to claim a 4-1 victory in rain-shortened eight-inning contest. Richmond starter Mike Kickham turned in a solid outing by allowing four hits and just one earned run along with two walks and six strikeouts in six innings of work. Kickham surrendered a solo home run to Oscar Tejeda in the bottom of the second, which gave the Sea Dogs a 1-0 advantage. Richmoned evened the score at 1-1 when Daniel Mayora scored on a sacrifice fly from Juan Ciriaco in the top of the fifth inning. The game was officially called with one out in the top of the eighth. Aaron Kurcz (2-2) earned the win in relief for Portland while Dunning (1-1) was tagged with the loss. 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: RHP Justin Fitzgerald vs. LHP Chris Hernandez Fitzgerald: Makes his thirteenth start of the season for the Flying Squirrels tonight. In his last start, Fitzgerald allowed seven hits and five earned runs along with two walks and three strikeouts in 6.1 innings pitched against Erie Sunday. He took the loss in Richmond's 5-1 setback. Tonight's game will be Fitzgerald's second career start against the Sea Dogs. He is 0-1 with an 8.31 ERA against Portland. 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 25-21 record with a 3.73 ERA in 121 career minor league appearances, including 64 starts. The Santa Rosa, Calif. native was selected by the Giants in the 11th round of the 2008 June Draft out of UC-Davis.

Hernandez: Makes his twelfth start of the season tonight. In his last start, Hernandez allowed six hits and two earned runs along with three walks and four strikeouts in 5.2 innings pitched at Altoona Sunday. He took the loss in Portland's 2-0 triumph. The southpaw spent with Advanced-A Salem. He posted a 10-7 record with a 3.18 ERA in 25 starts with the Salem Red Sox. He ranked fourth in the Carolina League in ERA (3.18) and was named to the Carolina League's Mid-Season All-Star team, Tonight's game will be his first career start against Richmond. He has a career minor league record of 12-12 with a 3.20 ERA in 37 starts. He was selected by Boston in the seventh round of the 2010 June Draft out of the University of Miami (FL).

THE REAL DON JUAN: Juan Perez continues to swing a hot bat for the Flying Squirrels. Perez went 2-for-4 last night and he has now hit safely in three straight games, going 5-for-10 with a double, a triple and an RBI. Perez is now batting .362 (17-for-47) with a home run, two doubles, one triple and six RBIs in his last 13 games, dating back to May 26. Last night's two-hit performance was Perez' 15th multi-hit game of the season, which ranks third on the club behind Daniel Mayora (20) and Gary Brown (16).

BEARING DOWN: Starter Mike Kickham has thrived since the calendar turned to June. In two June starts, Kickham is 1-0 with a 0.69 ERA (1 ER/13 IP). On June 2, the former Missouri State Bear tossed a seven-inning complete game shutout against Erie, in which he allowed just two hits and a walk while striking out a season-high eight batters. He followed that start with another strong outing last night, in which he allowed four hits and one earned run along with two walks and six strikeouts in six innings pitched at Portland.

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.

DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE: The Flying Squirrels turned one double play last night, giving the club an Eastern League-best 68 twin-killings for the season. Bowie ranks second with 66 double plays and Akron is third with 65 twin-killings.

Check out the Richmond Flying Squirrels Statistics

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



Eastern League Stories from June 9, 2012


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