EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Flying Squirrels Game Notes at Reading

Published on June 26, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


Richmond Flying Squirrels (36-40) vs. Reading Phillies (42-33)

Tuesday, June 26th -- 7:05 PM

FirstEnergy Stadium -- Reading, PA

Game # 77 - Road Game # 39

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

LHP Mike Kickham (5-5, 2.82) vs. LHP Mario Hollands (1-0, 4.50)

SERIES AT A GLANCE: The Flying Squirrels will seek to snap their four-game skid, which matches their longest losing streak of the season, when they take on the Reading Phillies in the opener of a four-game series at FirstEnergy Stadium tonight. On Monday afternoon, Evan Bigley went 2-for-3 and smacked a three-run home run to lift the New Britain Rock Cats to a 6-2 rain-shortened win over Richmond Flying Squirrels in the finale of a four-game series at The Diamond. Strong winds and rain ultimately forced the game to be called with New Britain batting in the top of the eighth inning. With the loss, Richmond was swept in the series. Gary Brown went 2-for-3 with a double for the Flying Squirrels and has hit safely in nine straight games, which matches the longest hitting streak of any Richmond batter in 2012. Richmond had several opportunities to score off Rock Cats starter Brett Jacobson. But the erratic right-hander emerged from his start unscathed thanks to four double plays that ended Richmond scoring threats. Russ Mitchell hit a two-run double off Rock Cats reliever Edgar Ibarra to account for Richmond's runs. Squirrels starter Chris Heston (6-3) allowed five hits and four earned runs along with two walks and six strikeouts in five innings pitched and was charged with the loss. Ibarra (1-0) earned the win in relief and Bruce Pugh picked up his second save. The Flying Squirrels went 5-5 against Reading in 2011 including a 3-4 mark at FirstEnergy Stadium. Richmond is 15-21 all-time against the R-Phils and the club is 6-13 all-time in Reading. The two teams will meet 16 times in 2012, 7 times in Reading and 9 times in Richmond. The R-Phils claimed the opening series by winning two out of three games between the clubs at The Diamond last week (4/16-4/18). Reading also took two out of three from Richmond at FirstEnergy Stadium (4/24-4/26). Following this series, the two teams will meet again for a three-game set in the River City (7/7-7/9).

TODAY'S PITCHERS: LHP Mike Kickham vs. LHP Mario Hollands Kickham: Makes his fifteenth start for the Flying Squirrels tonight. In his last start, Kickham allowed four hits and one earned run, along with a career-high six walks and five strikeouts in 5.2 innings pitched at Trenton Thursday. He earned his fifth win in Richmond's 7-2 triumph. Tonight's game will be Kickham's second career start against the R-Phils. He is 0-0 with a 1.80 ERA against Reading. Kickham currently ranks second in the Eastern League in walks (40). 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 10-15 record with a 3.71 ERA in 38 career minor league appearances, including 35 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.

Hollands: Makes his thirteenth appearance and his sixth start of the season tonight. Hollands began the season with Lakewood, Philadelphia's Low-A affi liate, and he posted an 0-1 record with a 4.57 ERA in nine appearances, including two starts. Following a promotion to Advanced-A Clearwater, Hollands went 3-0 with a 1.69 ERA in three starts. In his first start with Reading, Hollands allowed 11 hits and three earned runs along with one walk and four strikeouts at New Hampshire Thursday. He earned his first Double-A win in Reading's 9-3 triumph. Tonight's game will be his first start against the Flying Squirrels. Hollands boasts a career record of 14-11 with a 4.19 ERA in 55 appearances, including 35 starts. Hollands was originally selected by Minnesota in the 24th round of the 2009 June Draft, but he did not sign. He was selected by Philadelphia in the 10th round of the 2010 June Draft out of UC-Santa Barbara.

WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR YOU?: Gary Brown continues to fare well at the plate. Brown went 2-for-3 with a double in Monday's 6-2 setback against New Britain. It was his ninth consecutive game with a base hit, which matches the longest hitting streak by Flying Squirrels batter in 2010. He has multiple hits in seven of those nine contests and has a team-best 25 multi-hit games this season. In his last 10 games, Brown is batting .386 (17-for-44) with one home run, five RBIs and nine runs scored. He currently ranks third in the Eastern League in stolen bases with 21.

EASTERN WOES: After being swept in a four-game series against New Britain, the Flying Squirrels record against Eastern Division foes dropped to 17-19 this season. In 36 games against Eastern Division teams, Richmond is averaging 2.98 runs per game.

Conversely, the Flying Squirrels are averaging 3.78 runs per game in 40 games against Western Division opponents and the club has an overall record of 19-21 against the Western Division.

Check out the Richmond Flying Squirrels Statistics

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



Eastern League Stories from June 26, 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