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EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Flying Squirrels Game Notes at Reading

June 28, 2012 - Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


Richmond Flying Squirrels (36-42) vs. Reading Phillies (44-33)

Thursday, June 28th -- 7:05 PM

FirstEnergy Stadium -- Reading, PA

Game # 79 - Road Game # 41

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

LHP Chris Gloor (1-1, 2.97) vs. RHP Jordan Whatcott (1-0, 2.65)

SERIES AT A GLANCE: The Flying Squirrels will seek to snap their season-high six-game losing streak when they take on the Reading Phillies in game three of a four-game series at FirstEnergy Stadium tonight. On Wednesday afternoon, Brandon Tripp went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs and Darin Ruf drove in two runs as Reading topped the Flying Squirrels 7-3 in the second game of the series. Squirrels starter Justin Fitzgerald (3-6) allowed four hits and six runs, five of which were earned, along with five walks and five strikeouts in four innings pitched and he was charged with the loss. Fitzgerald was ejected from the contest by home plate umpire Brian De Brauwere in the bottom of the fifth inning. Meanwhile, Reading starter Julio Rodriguez (5-1) allowed four hits and four earned runs along with four walks and six strikeouts in six innings pitched and earned his fifth win of the season.

Mark Minicozzi and Ryan Cavan each hit solo home runs in the second inning, which gave Richmond a 2-1 lead at that point. Gary Brown went 1-for-4 with a walk and extended his team-high hitting streak to 11 games. The Flying Squirrels went 5-5 against Reading in 2011 including a 3-4 mark at FirstEnergy Stadium. Richmond is 15-23 all-time against the R-Phils and the club is 6-15 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 Chris Gloor vs. RHP Jordan Whatcott Gloor: Makes his twentieth appearance and his first start for the Flying Squirrels tonight. In his last appearance, Gloor allowed two hits and one earned run along with no walks and three strikeouts in 3.1 innings pitched against New Britain Saturday. He did not factor in the decision in Richmond's 6-1 setback. Tonight's game will be Gloor's second career appearance and his first start against Reading. He is 0-0 with a 33.75 ERA (5 ER/1.1 IP) against Reading. Earlier this season, Gloor tossed 19.2 scoreless innings (May 1 through June 15), the longest scoreless innings streak by a Squirrels pitcher in 2012. Last season, Gloor pitched for three different Giants affiliates, Advanced-A San Jose, Rookie-Ball AZL Giants and Short-Season A Salem-Keizer. He posted a combined record of 3-1 with one save and a 3.34 ERA in 18 appearances. Gloor owns a 15-5 record with three saves a 2.81 ERA in 98 career minor league appearances, including seven starts. The Bay Shore, NY. native was selected by the Giants in the 17th round of the 2009 June Draft out of Quinnipiac University.

Whatcott: Makes his 25th appearance and his fourth start of the season tonight. Whatcott opened the season with Adavnced-A Clearwater, where he posted a 2-0 mark with a 0.00 ERA in six appearances. Since his promotion to Reading, Whatcott has compiled a 1-0 record with a 2.65 ERA with one save in 18 appearances, including three starts. The right-hander spent the entire 2011 campaign with Clearwater, where he posted a 4-1 record with a 2.57 ERA in 45 appearances. Tonight's game will be his first start against the Flying Squirrels. Whatcott boasts a career record of 9-1 with 14 saves and a 3.18 ERA in 87 appearances, including three starts. He was signed by Philadelphia as a non-drafted free agent in 2010.

WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR YOU?: Gary Brown continues to fare well at the plate. Brown went 1-for-4 with a walk in Wednesday's 7-4 setback at Reading. It was his eleventh consecutive game with a base hit, which gives him the longest hitting streak by Flying Squirrels batter in 2012. He is just two games shy of matching the longest hitting streak in Flying Squirrels franchise history, which is shared by Clay Timpner and Brandon Belt (13 games), both of whom accomplished the feat in 2010. He has multiple hits in seven of those eleven contests and has a team-best 25 multi-hit games this season. In his last 10 games, Brown is batting .395 (17-for-43) with one home run, four RBIs and nine runs scored. He currently is tied for third in the Eastern League in stolen bases with 21.

STRUGGLING STARTERS: The Flying Squirrels starting pitching staff has struggled mightily in the last week. Over the course of the club's current six-game losing streak, Richmond's starters have combined to go 0-5 with a 7.90 ERA and have allowed 31 runs over six games. Prior to Richmond's four-game series against New Britain (June 22-June25), the Flying Squirrels pitching staff had a team ERA of 2.60 during the month of June, which was the lowest in the Eastern League during June. The Flying Squirrels staff ERA for June now sits at 3.45, which ranks second behind Bowie (3.38) for the lowest in the circuit.

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD: Mark Minicozzi has been a welcome addition to the Flying Squirrels lineup. Since joining the club on June 1, Minicozzi is batting .301 with eight home runs and 14 RBIs. After going 2-for-4 with a home run in yesterday's game at Reading, Minicozzi is now hitting .343 (12-for-35) with two home runs, six RBis and five runs scored in his last ten games.

Check out the Richmond Flying Squirrels Statistics



Eastern League Stories from June 28, 2012


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