EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Flying Squirrels Game Notes: at Reading

Published on May 31, 2015 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


Richmond Flying Squirrels (SF) (22-25) vs. Reading Fightin Phils (PHI) (27-22)

Monday, June 1st -- 11:35 AM

FirstEnergy Stadium -- Reading, PA

Game #48 - Road Game #23

Radio: Fox Sports 910 (11:00 AM) Internet: FoxSportsRichmond.com

LHP Matt Lujan (2-4, 5.10) vs. RHP Zach Efflin (4-3, 3.48)

SERIES AT A GLANCE: The Fightins took a leg up in the four-game series as the Squirrels essentially handed them game three, 6-3, on Sunday afternoon. In the loss, Richmond hurlers issued a season-high 10 walks. The Fightins erased a 3-0 deficit with a six-run eighth inning. Reading is now 8-1 against Richmond on the season, and will have the opportunity to take their third series victory over the Squirrels this season on Monday. 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 19-8 since the end of that slide on May 4th, and had pulled back within a game of .500 with their win in the series-opener. Richmond has 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, four games behind division-leading New Britain. LHP Matt Lujan will make his second start of the season at FirstEnergy Stadium against prospect RHP Zach Efflin.

APRIL SHOWERS BROUGHT MAY WINS: After suffering through the worst month in franchise-history, and posting a dismal record of 3-14 in April, the Squirrels matched the most successful month the franchise has ever had in the very next month. Richmond finished 19-11. Their19 wins equaled the franchise-record for wins in a month, which has now been accomplished three times. 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.

BEER FRAME: It seemed that everybody struck for the Squirrels in the 5th 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 1st, 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.

I'M FRIGHTENED BY BATS: The Squirrels might be somewhat saddened to see May go, as they posted the Eastern League's highest team average in the month (.278 - 289-1038). Richmond hit a league-worst .209 (121-579) during the month of April. OF Mac Williamson currently rides a team-high 20-game on-base streak.

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 19-game on-base streak, which dates back to 5/11. He also rides a 13-game hit-streak (21-54). He sits second behind only INF Kelby Tomlinson in OBP (.361) and batting average (.315). He is also third on the club in runs scored (26) despite the fact that he has appeared in only 34 of the Squirrels 47 games thus far.

SEVEN IS INDEED THE NUMBER: The Squirrels fell short on Saturday night in their second attempt this month to equal the franchise-record of seven straight wins. The Squirrels dropped a, 4-3, decision to Reading, snapping their six-game win-streak. Richmond fell to Bowie, 2-0, on May 10th in their first bid. The franchise-mark was established in the Squirrels' inaugural season of 2010 when they won seven straight from April 27th - May 3rd.

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 torched Eastern League pitching during the month, batting .343 (37-108) with 6 HRs and 25 RBIs. He welcomes this road trip as well, as he is batting .369 (29-79) 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 Zach Efflin (4-3, 3.48)

Eflin, 21, celebrated his 21st birthday the day before the 2015 season began, opening the year with the Fightins at 21-years and one day old. He was originally the 33rd overall selection in the 2012 draft by the San Diego Padres. He was signed away from a college commitment to the University of Central Florida for $1.2 million dollars and spent his first three professional seasons with San Diego. In December of 2014, he was part of a wild three-way deal between the Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies. He was first traded by the Padres to the Dodgers along with Joe Weiland, and Yasmani Grandal in exchange for Tim Federowicz, Matt Kemp and cash considerations. The Dodgers then flipped him to the Phillies along with Tom Windle for Jimmy Rollins. Windle is also a member of the Fightins season-opening rotation. Eflin immediately checked in at #6 on the Phillies prospect rankings according to Baseball America. He finished 2014 third in the Calfornia League in ERA (3.80) after making 23 starts for the Lake Elsinore Storm in the Padres' chain. He had been highly successful through his first eight starts, carrying an ERA of 2.28, but he was rocked his last time out by New Hampshire. The Fisher Cats pounded out 12 hits and scored eight earned runs off him in three innings. He threw eight scoreless innings allowing just three hits against the Squirrels on April 19th.

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Eastern League Stories from May 31, 2015


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