EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Flying Squirrels Game Notes at Reading

Published on June 27, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


Richmond Flying Squirrels (36-41) vs. Reading Phillies (43-33)

Wednesday, June 27th -- 12:05 PM

FirstEnergy Stadium -- Reading, PA

Game # 78 - Road Game # 40

Radio: Sports Radio 910 AM (11:35 AM) Internet: sportsradio910.com

RHP Justin Fitzgerald (3-5, 4.34) vs. RHP Julio Rodriguez (4-1, 3.01)

SERIES AT A GLANCE: The Flying Squirrels will seek to snap their season-high five-game losing streak when they take on the Reading Phillies in game two of a four-game series at FirstEnergy Stadium today. Last night, Leandro Castro went 3-for-5 with two doubles and four RBIs and Troy Hanzawa drove in three runs as Reading overwhelmed the Flying Squirrels in the series opener.

Squirrels starter Mike Kickham (5-6) allowed five hits and six runs, three of which were earned, along with five walks and four strikeouts in 3.2 innings pitched and he was charged with the loss. Meanwhile, Reading starter Mario Hollands (2-0) limited the Flying Squirrels to two hits and one earned run in six innings pitched and he collected his second Double-A win. Gary Brown provided the lone offensive highlight for Richmond by going 1-for-3 with a walk to extend his current hitting streak to 10 games, the longest hit streak for any Squirrels batter in 2012. The Flying Squirrels went 5-5 against Reading in 2011 including a 3-4 mark at FirstEnergy Stadium. Richmond is 15-22 all-time against the R-Phils and the club is 6-14 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: RHP Justin Fitzgerald vs. RHP Julio Rodriguez Fitzgerald: Makes his sixteenth start for the Flying Squirrels today. In his last start, Fitzgerald allowed five hits and four runs, three of which were earned, along with two walks and three strikeouts in six innings pitched against New Britain Friday. He received a no-decision in Richmond's 9-8 setback. Tonight's game will be Fitzgerald's first start against Reading this season and his third career start against the R-Phils. He is 1-0 with a 2.03 ERA against Reading. 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 25-22 record with a 3.68 ERA in 124 career minor league appearances, including 67 starts. The Santa Rosa, Calif. native was selected by the Giants in the 11th round of the 2008 June Draft out of UC-Davis.

Rodriguez: Makes his fifteenth start of the season today. In his last start, Rodriguez allowed five hits and three earned runs along with three walks and eight strikeouts in four innings pitched at Bowie Friday night. He received a no-decision in Reading's 6-3 setback. Rodriguez currently ranks fifth in the Eastern League in walks (37) and tenth in the circuit in ERA (3.01). The right-hander spent the entire 2011 campaign with Advanced-A Clearwater, where he posted a 16-7 record with a 2.76 ERA in 27 starts. Rodriguez led the Florida State League in wins (16) and opponents' batting average (.186) and he ranked second in the circuit in ERA (2.76), strikeouts (168) and innings pitched (156.2). He earned FSL Pitcher-of-the-Week honors three times during the season and he was named a FSL Mid-Season All-Star and to the league's Postseason All-Star team. Today's game will be his first start against the Flying Squirrels. Rodriguez boasts a career record of 28-14 with a 2.90 ERA in 79 appearances, including 61 starts. He was selected by Philadelphia in the eighth round of the 2008 June Draft out of the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy.

WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR YOU?: Gary Brown continues to fare well at the plate. Brown went 1-for-3 with a walk in Tuesday's 10-2 setback at Reading. It was his tenth consecutive game with a base hit, which gives him the longest hitting streak by Flying Squirrels batter in 2012. He has multiple hits in seven of those ten contests and has a team-best 25 multi-hit games this season.

In his last 10 games, Brown is batting .419 (18-for-43) with one home run, five RBIs and nine runs scored. He currently ranks third in the Eastern League in stolen bases with 21.

SCORING STRUGGLES: Since scoring eight runs on eleven hits in Friday's loss to New Britain, the Flying Squirrels have struggled offensively. Richmond has scored a total of eight runs on twenty-two hits over their past four games. This works out to an average of two runs per game and 5.5 hits per game. The Flying Squirrels have been outscored 29-8 during this stretch and opposing teams have combined for 45 hits compared to Richmond's 22 hits.

STRIKING FIRST: Richmond has fared much better when scoring first this season. Since joining the club on June 1, The Flying Squirrels are 29-13 (.690) when they score first. Richmond is just 7-28 (.200) in games when the opposing team scores first.

Check out the Richmond Flying Squirrels Statistics

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Eastern League Stories from June 27, 2012


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