EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Flying Squirrels Game Notes vs. Akron

Published on July 19, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


Richmond Flying Squirrels (50-48) vs. Akron Aeros (58-39)

Thursday, July 19th -- 7:05 PM

The Diamond -- Richmond, VA

Game # 99 - Home Game # 48

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

LHP Chris Gloor (2-1, 1.98) vs. LHP Matt Packer (0-0, 0.00)

SERIES AT A GLANCE: The Flying Squirrels will attempt to get back on the winning track when they take on the Akron Aeros in the opener of a four-game series at The Diamond tonight. Last night, Kyle McPherson allowed three earned runs and struck out eight batters in five innings pitched and Quincy Latimore hit his 11th home run of the season to lead the Altoona Curve to an 8-3 victory over the Flying Squirrels in a game that was called due to rain in the seventh inning at The Diamond. The win snapped Richmond's four-game win streak. Gary Brown went 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, two RBIs and two runs scored for Richmond and he extended his team-high on-base streak to 34 games. Squirrels starter Justin Fitzgerald (5-7) took the loss after allowing six hits and five runs, four of which were earned, in five innings pitched. The game was delayed for one hour and one minute with two outs in the top of the sixth. After play resumed, the two teams got through the top of the seventh before the rain returned, which caused the game to be called. The Flying Squirrels went 5-6 against Akron in 2011 including a 2-1 mark at The Diamond. Richmond is 10-14 all-time against the Aeros and the club is 3-3 all-time in the River City. The two teams will meet 14 times in 2012, 6 times in Akron and 8 times in Richmond. Following this four-game series, the Flying Squirrels and Aeros will meet again at The Diamond for a four-game series, August 31-September 3.

TODAY'S PITCHERS: LHP Chris Gloor vs. LHP Matt Packer Gloor: Makes his twenty-fourth appearance and his fifth start of the season for the Flying Squirrels tonight. In his last start, Gloor allowed three hits and no runs along with no walks and five strikeouts in a career-high six innings pitched at Harrisburg in Saturday.

He received a no-decision in Richmond's 5-4 win in 10 innings. Tonight's game will be Gloor's third career appearance and second start against Akron. He is 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA against the Aeros. 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, the 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 16-5 record with three saves and a 2.56 ERA in 102 career minor league appearances, including eleven starts. The Bay Shore, NY native was selected by the Giants in the 17th round of the 2009 June Draft out of Quinnipiac University.

Packer: Makes his fifth start of the season and his first for Akron tonight. Packer opened the season with Cleveland's affiliate in the Arizona League, where he went 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA in two starts. Following a promotion to Advanced-A Carolina, Packer went 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in two starts. The southpaw spent the entire 2011 season with Akron, where he posted a 9-12 with a 4.31 ERA in 27 starts. Tonight's game will be his third career start against Richmond. He is 2-0 with a 0.60 ERA against the Flying Squirrels.

Packer has a career record of 19-19 with two saves and a 3.16 ERA in 66 appearances, including 49 starts. He was selected by Cleveland in the 32nd round of the 2009 June Draft out of the University of Virginia.

WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR YOU?: Gary Brown continues to produce at the plate. After going 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, two RBIs and two runs scored Wednesday night, Brown, who recently had a team-high 12-game hitting streak, has now hit safely in 28 of his last 30 games. During this stretch, Brown is batting .417 (53-for-127) with four home runs, a triple, 15 doubles, 15 RBIs and 29 runs scored. He has reached base in 34 consecutive games, the longest streak for a Flying Squirrels player in 2012.

Additionally, he has raised his overall average from .236 on June 15 to .295 as of today. With two hits last night, Brown now has 37 multi-hit games this season, a team-high for Richmond.

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD: Mark Minicozzi has thrived at the plate through the first eight games of the second half. After last night's 1-for-3 performance, which included an RBI, Minicozzi finished 7-for-11 in the Altoona series and he is now 11-for-25 (.440) in his last seven games.

BIRTHDAY BASH: Richmond catcher Tommy Joseph enjoyed a memorable 21st birthday against Altoona Monday night. Joseph went 3-for-5 with a double, a run scored and he drove in two of Richmond's runs in the Squirrels 5-3 win. It was the second straight season in which Joseph has celebrated his birthday with a big night at the plate. Last season, he went 3-for-5 with a home run, a double and a career-high six RBIs to help lead San Jose, the Giants' Advanced-A affiliate, to a 9-4 victory over the Inland Empire 66ers.

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Eastern League Stories from July 19, 2012


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