EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Flying Squirrels Game Notes: at Reading

Published on May 29, 2015 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


Richmond Flying Squirrels (SF) (21-23) vs. Reading Fightin Phils (PHI) (25-21)

Friday, May 29th -- 7:05 PM

FirstEnergy Stadium -- Reading, PA

Game #45 - Road Game #20

Radio: Fox Sports 910 (6:35 PM) Internet: FoxSportsRichmond.com

RHP Chris Stratton (0-5, 4.50) vs. RHP Ben Lively (4-1, 3.47)

SERIES AT A GLANCE: The Squirrels open their longest road trip of the season, both in mileage and duration, tonight at FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading, PA. Never before in franchise-history have the Squirrels played a three-city road trip, nor have they had a trip that lasted 10 days. They will also visit Portland, ME, and Manchester, NH. This is the second and final trip to Baseballtown for the Squirrels. They were earlier swept in a three-game series by the Fightins from April 17th - April 19th. Reading also swept the Squirrels in a three-game series at The Diamond from April 27th - April 29th. Those six losses were part of the Squirrels record 15-game losing streak, which now seems like a distant memory. The Squirrels are 18-6 since the end of that slide on May 4th, and pulled back within two games of .500 with their walk-off win in 10 innings over Harrisburg last night. Richmond will enter this series having five straight games and having claimed six of their last seven series. Reading has continued their strong play from earlier in the season, and led by their all-prospect rotation currently sits second in the Eastern Division, five games behind division-leading New Britain. Richmond RHP Chris Stratton will make his second start of the season, and career, against Reading in the opener tonight. He will be paired with Reading RHP Ben Lively, who faces the Squirrels for the second time this season.

APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY WINS: After suffering through the worst month in franchise-history, and posting a dismal record of 3-14 in April, the Squirrels are threatening to record the most successful month the franchise has ever had in the very next month. Richmond is currently 18-9 in May with three games remaining in the month. The franchise-record for wins in a month is 19, which has been established twice. Last year, the Squirrels went 19-10 in June and followed that up with an 18-11 July to pull away in the Western Division. In 2011, the Squirrels used a 19-12 month of July to pull back into the playoff race. In each of those seasons, the Squirrels advanced to the Eastern League Championship Series. Should the Squirrels go 2-1 or better in their next three games, they will not only break the record for total wins in a month, but also for monthly winning percentage as well.

BEER FRAME: It seemed that everybody struck for the Squirrels in the fifth inning of Wednesday night's 12-0 win over Harrisburg. The Squirrels recorded eight hits in the inning, which established a new franchise-record for hits in an inning. The Squirrels had previously recorded seven hits in an inning twice, the last time coming on July 9th, 2012, at The Diamond against Reading. The eight runs in an inning was one shy of the franchise-mark of nine runs in an inning, which was memorably established on May 26th, 2013 at Altoona. In that inning, the first, OF Jarrett Parker became the only Squirrel to ever homer twice in the same inning. Devin Harris and Mitch Delfino each had two hits in the fifth inning on Wednesday night.

BIG MAC AND THE MAYFLOWERS: OF Mac Williamson is feasting in the month of May. The #11 prospect in the San Francisco chain has hit safely in 23 of his last 26 games, beginning on May 1st. He is batting a robust .350 in the month (36-103), while blasting three home runs, eight 2Bs and driving in 22 runs. Meanwhile, the Squirrels as a whole have posted the EL's highest team average in the month of May (.283 - 264-932). Richmond hit a league-worst .209 (121-579) during the month of April. Williamson currently rides a team-high 17-game on-base streak. Richmond has also now pulled ahead of four clubs (Trenton, Bowie, New Britain, Harrisburg) in terms of overall team average. The Squirrels are batting .255 (385-1511) as a club overall.

RRRRANDO!: It has become difficult to ignore what INF Rando Moreno has been able to do at the plate this year. Moreno currently rides a season-high 16-game on-base streak, which dates back to 5/11. He also rides a 10-game hit-streak (17-41). He sits second behind only INF Kelby Tomlinson in OBP (.371) and batting average (.326). He is also third on the club in runs scored (23) despite the fact that he has appeared in only 31 of the Squirrels 43 games thus far.

HOW THE WEST WAS WON: If the Squirrels could play only their division, they might coast to a second straight Western Division title. Richmond is currently 19-10 against the Western Division, with 10 of those wins coming against the Bowie Baysox. However, the Squirrels are currently 2-13 against the Eastern Division. Richmond has played exclusively the Western Division in their last 14 games, but that will change on this road trip on which they will play three consecutive series (10 games) against the opposite division. The trip, which will mark the longest in franchise history, will include stops in Reading, Portland and New Hampshire.

LEARNING NEW TRICKS: 1B Ricky Oropesa struggled offensively in his first two years in the Eastern League. However, after getting off to an atrocious start to this season, batting just .135 (7-52) in April, the USC-product has turned a significant corner in May. He has torched Eastern League pitching during the month, batting .344 (33-96) with 5 HRs and 23 RBIs. He welcomes this road trip as well, as he is batting .366 (26-71) away from The Diamond. He has compiled five three-hit games, all of which have occurred on the road.

UPCOMING HOMESTAND PROMOTIONS: (6/9) Kids Thermos Giveaway presented by Martin's (6/10) Middle Child Night (6/11) Fireworks!/Tribute to Meat presented by Your Local Ford Dealers (6/12) Free Shirt Fridays & Happy Hour presented by Village Bank/Boy Scout Sleepover (6/13) Fireworks!/Swim Team Jersey Auction presented by Towne Bank (6/14) Kids Club Shovel & Pail Giveaway presented by Coca-Cola.

READING STARTING PITCHER: RHP Ben Lively (4-1, 3.47)

Lively, 23, was originally a 4th round selection of the Cincinnati Reds out of Central Florida University in the 2012 draft. He spent the first two seasons of his professional career in the Reds' chain, and climbed the ladder quickly. He opened 2014 in Advanced-A Bakersfield, but forced a promotion to Double-A in just his second professional season by posting a 10-1 record and 2.28 ERA in 13 sterling starts. He certainly wasn't overmatched at Double-A Pensacola either, making 13 starts for the Blue Wahoos and recording a 3.88 ERA. He is noted for his deceptive delivery that allowed him to rack up 227 strikeouts in just 192 minor league innings entering this season. Baseball America touted him as the #12 prospect in the Reds' chain prior to him being dealt to the Phillies, which he was for veteran outfielder Marlon Byrd on New Year's Eve (12/31/14). A surprised Lively was quoted immediately after the trade as saying "Welcome to baseball, I guess," and "It was like, Happy New Year." Just weeks prior to being traded, the Reds had named Lively as their 2014 minor league player of the year. He handcuffed the Squirrels in his first start against them on April 27th at The Diamond. In the outing, he tossed seven scoreless innings to earn the win. He allowed six hits, walked one and struck out seven.

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Eastern League Stories from May 29, 2015


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