EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Flying Squirrels Game Notes: vs. Akron

Published on July 6, 2015 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


Richmond Flying Squirrels (SF) (42-38) vs. Akron RubberDucks (CLE) (43-40)

Monday, July 6th -- 7:05 PM

The Diamond -- Richmond, VA

Game #81 - Home Game #43

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

RHP Tyler Beede (1-3, 4.15) vs. LHP Ryan Merritt (5-6, 3.55)

SERIES AT A GLANCE: There were plenty of offensive opportunities squandered Sunday, and the Flying Squirrels managed to prevail, 2-1, over the RubberDucks in game two of this three-game set. Akron left 10 runners on base and the two clubs went 2-15 with runners in scoring position. Richmond starter Adalberto Mejia maneuvered around a season high five walks by only allowing two hits and no runs through six innings. The Squirrels displayed an explosive offense in the 7-3 win over the RubberDucks on Independence Day in the opener. Richmond scored the most runs in a game since June 21. This all came following a two hour and nine minute rain delay. This is the first series this season between the Squirrels and the Akron RubberDucks (Cleveland Indians). Also, it is the last Eastern League team Richmond has yet to battle in 2015. These two squads will clash nine more times for the remainder of the regular season and the Squirrels only make one trip to Akron (8/27-8/31). The RubberDucks rely heavily on their pitching this year with a combined 3.00 ERA, which is tops in the league (Richmond is second, 3.07).

MIDDLE OF THE PACK: The Squirrels were in 3rd place in the Western Division for 24 days in June and are finally back there after Sunday. Richmond jumped Akron and now is a game back of the second place Altoona Curve. There was a small span of time (6/17-6/19) where Richmond held a share of second place for the first time since being 3-3 on April 15. The team dropped to fourth place following a doubleheader on June 29 for the first time since May 19. The Squirrels are 4.5 games back of the Bowie Baysox (Baltimore Orioles) for first place.

"HEY NOW, YOU'RE AN ALL-STAR": Eastern League All-Star Game rosters were announced Wednesday and the Squirrels will send four players and three coaches from their staff. RHP Joe Biagini, LHP Kelvin Marte, INF Rando Moreno, and 1B Ricky Oropesa all earned the invitations to the game, which takes place in Portland, ME (Home of the Sea Dogs) on July 15. Biagini holds an ERA of 2.01 and that is good for fourth best in the league. He went 6.1 innings Saturday and did not allow a run to help lower that ERA. Marte has served time as a reliever and starter this season. The southpaw currently sports a 1.69 ERA out of the bullpen and 2.39 as a starter. Moreno and Oropesa headline the offense. Oropesa hit .343 in May to capture Eastern League Player of the Month and Moreno has shown consistency all year with a .306 average (best on the team). Manager Jose Alguacil, hitting coach Kenny Joyce, and trainer David Getsoff receive the responsibility as coaches for the game in honor of the Western Division crown in 2014.

3...2...1...LIFTOFF: The calendar flipped to July and all of a sudden there has been a power surge for the Squirrels. The team has hit at least one home run in every game during this month (five games). In total, Richmond has already launched seven home runs in July. In drastic contrast, the club hit nine homers during all of June (28 games). Devin Harris, Rando Moreno, Mitch Delfino, Hunter Cole, and Eliezer Zambrano have each gone yard once. Moreno's first home run of the season came on July 1 and Cole smashed his first Double-A long ball on July 4. Myles Schroder produced the other two home runs during this month. The Squirrels have 37 homers this year and that is tied for the second fewest in the league.

A MUCH NEEDED BREATHER: The starting pitching has helped tremendously in allowing the bullpen to recover. Matt Lujan took no-hitter into the seventh inning Friday in his impressive start despite the 5-4 loss (7.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R). Kelvin Marte put together a dazzling performance on the mound on Thursday to propel the Squirrels to victory. The recently named All-Star threw eight scoreless innings (ties longest out in his career) and at one point retired 22 straight batters. The bullpen took a major toll Wednesday as six different pitchers were used in a 13-inning marathon. It is the first time since May 31 (five relievers) that the club had to summon close to that many arms from the bullpen in a game. In total, the bullpen logged 11 innings in this game and allowed six earned runs. To make quite the comparison, Richmond worked 15 innings out of the bullpen and let up two earned runs in the entire four-game series against Trenton (6/23-6/27).

MINOR SETBACK WITH A BIZARRE STRETCH: Richmond lost four straight games in a span of six days (6/23-6/29), which was the longest losing streak since the 15-game skid (4/15-5/3). There was some serious inclement weather that put a twist to the beginning of a road trip in late June in New Britain. The Squirrels and Rock Cats were suspended in game one of this series after three scoreless frames on June 28 due to heavy rain. They were supposed to resume action the next day and in addition play the second game, but, again, a torrential downpour forced another postponement. So, Richmond and New Britain audibled for a shortened two-game series June 29 (scrapping the third game). In the resumption of the suspended game, the Squirrels dealt with their third consecutive shutout loss. This marked the first time in franchise history Richmond had been blanked in three straight games. Rando Moreno delivered a go-ahead two run double on June 29, which propelled the team to a 2-1 win. Down to their final out (in just a seven inning game), Moreno broke a scoreless streak of 29 offensive innings.

RUN PRODUCERS: Since the departure of Mac Williamson to Triple-A Sacramento on June 26, the middle of the lineup has struggled to adjust. Williamson left as the team's second best run producer with 42 RBI's and hit an impressive .293 with runners in scoring position. Devin Harris and Ricky Oropesa continue to cement themselves in the four and five slots respectively in the lineup. Harris is hitting just .241 with runners in scoring position and only has one RBI in his last eight games. Also, he has nine strikeouts in the previous four games. Meanwhile, Oropesa does not have any RBI's since June 23 and went just 3-32 at the plate from 6/23-7/3. However, Hunter Cole is making a presence in what used to be Williamson's three spot in the order. The 22-year old is 10-28 since joining the Squirrels on June 26.

UPCOMING HOMESTAND PROMOTIONS: (7/6) Road to the Revolution - Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death. (7/7) Hunter Strickland American Flag Vest Bobblehead Giveaway (2,000 All Ages). (7/8) Doug E. Fresh Appearance(7/9) Fireworks/90's Game Show Night presented by Your Local Ford Dealers.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW: There was quite the buzz around the RVA Friday as two former Richmond players were called up to the San Francisco Giants Friday. 29-year-old Ryan Lollis spent time with the Squirrels from 2011 to 2015 and earned his first promotion to the bigs. He made his debut with San Francisco Saturday in left field and went 0-4. Meanwhile, LHP Josh Osich also moved up and made his big league debut for the Giants Friday (1 IP, 2 BB, 0 R). Osich converted 19 saves for Richmond this year.

AKRON STARTING PITCHER: LHP Ryan Merritt (5-6, 3.55)

Merritt will make his 16th start for the RubberDucks and first against the Squirrels this year. The left-hander dominates with control in 2015. Merritt has only walked 10 batters and there has not been a start where he has issued more than one free pass. However, he pitches to contact and his 104 hits allowed leads the team. The Indians selected him in the 16th round of the 2011 draft. This is the first season at Double-A for the 23-year-old. Merritt won a league best 13 games and sported the third lowest ERA (2.58) in the Carolina League with the Carolina Mudcats (A+ at the time) in 2014. He attended McLennan Community College in Texas.

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Eastern League Stories from July 6, 2015


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