EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Flying Squirrels Game Notes: vs. Akron

Published on July 22, 2015 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


Richmond Flying Squirrels (SF) (50-45) vs. Akron RubberDucks (CLE) (50-47)

Wednesday, July 22nd -- 12:05 PM

The Diamond -- Richmond, VA

Game #96 - Home Game #54

Radio: Fox Sports 910 (11:35 AM) Internet: FoxSportsRichmond.com

LHP Kelvin Marte (8-2, 2.31) vs. RHP Mike Clevinger (6-5, 2.85)

Thursday, July 23rd @ERI 7:05 PM LHP Matt Gage (1-0, 1.80) vs. RHP Chad Green (2-13, 5.04)

Friday, July 24th @ERI 7:05 PM LHP Adalberto Mejia (4-2, 2.82) vs. LHP Josh Turley (9-6, 3.34)

TODAY'S PRESS FEED: It with be Carytown Burgers & (hopefully) Fries. This day in sports: Mets pitcher Orel Hershiser won his 200th career game (1999). Hope everyone had a blast on this eight-game homestand.

SERIES AT A GLANCE: The offense erupted near the end to propel the Squirrels to an 8-0 victory over the RubberDucks in game two of this three-game set Tuesday. Richmond scored seven runs and tallied eight hits in the eighth inning. Those eight hits are tied for the most in a single inning this season (5/27 vs. Harrisburg). All of the hits in this frame yesterday were singles and two of them were bunts. Meanwhile, this was an all-bullpen performance from Richmond led by Joan Gregorio. He made his just second start of the year (spot-start) and was lights out. He did not issue a walk, only absorbed one hit, and retired the first 10 hitters he faced. The right-hander finished with a season high four innings on the mound. Akron only mustered two hits the whole game. This is the eighth time the Squirrels have produced a shutout win. The bullpen salvaged a 4-3 victory for Richmond in game one of this three-game series against Akron. Tyler Mizenko allowed three hits in the ninth inning, but picked off a base runner, which helped him earn the save. The Richmond relievers tossed three innings, absorbed five hits, no runs, and registered four strikeouts.This battle between these Western Division foes marks only the second series between the two clubs so far this season. They battled at The Diamond in early July (7/4-7/6) and the Squirrels swept the RubberDucks in three contests. Richmond and Akron enter play one and two respectively atop the Eastern League in team earned run average (2.97, 3.06). The RubberDucks grabbed three of four games in their last series against the Erie SeaWolves and scored 28 runs total. The Squirrels scored 12 runs in five games against Altoona most recently. The Squirrels are 5-0 against the RubberDucks and the two teams will meet five more times during the remainder of the regular season. The only other series after this is at Canal Park (8/27-8/30) and at that point the Squirrels will discover their final road venue that they have not been to this season (Binghamton, the other 8/18-8/20).

NEARING THE TOP: Believe it or not, the uphill climb is soon to be forgotten. The Flying Squirrels are just one game back of the first place Bowie Baysox (Baltimore Orioles). It is the closest Richmond has been to the top since April 15 when the team was just 3-3 (0.5 GB). The team was two games back entering yesterday's battle, but prior to that had no memory of what it felt like to be at the top for awhile. The Squirrels were 2.5 games back of first place on June 23 and July 11, but could not come near that again until Monday. RIchmond was as far back as 11.5 games (May 3) when the club was in the midst of a 15-game losing skid.

TWO NEEDLES IN THE HAYSTACK: Austin Slater compiled an impressive 12-game on base streak from July 6 to July 19. He has two or more hits in eight of his 21 games since receiving the promotion from San Jose (A+). This includes a 3-4 performance last night. Meanwhile, Engel Beltre has hit safely in his last 12 games. Mac Williamson has the longest hitting streak this year for the Squirrels (14 games). Ten of the 15 hits from Beltre during this tremendous run have been singles. He has waited late into games recently to extend this streak. In three of his last four games, his first hit has occured in the sixth inning or later. Beltre and Slater are the only current Richmond hitters to hold an average above .300 (.310, .307).

COLE WORLD: Hunter Cole is starting to make heads turn when it comes to his approach at the plate. The 22-year-old has been slotted in the number three spot in the batting order 17 times over the 21 games he has started. He only managed to knock in two runs during his first 17 games since earning the promotion to Richmond on June 26. Cole has three RBI's in his last four games. He also has five hits in his last three games with two doubles, a triple, and a bunt single. The former Georgia Bulldog went 7-15 in his first four games with the Squirrels, but dropped off quite a bit after that. He recorded only three hits from July 7 to July 16.

HOLD ON TO YOUR HATS: The Flying Squirrels have played in 13 games decided by two runs or less in July. Richmond is 6-7 in these games. This eight-run game yesterday is the largest margin of victory by the Squirrels or their opponents in July so far. It was previously five when Richmond fell 5-0 on July 16. There have been four extra inning games throughout this current month and Richmond has lost all of them. The toughest stint for the bullpen came on July 1 where they were forced to use six different arms and allowed all six runs in the extra inning loss, 6-5.Tyler Mizenko has done a terrific job of limiting the damge from the opposition. He has thrown 6.1 shutout innings with six strikeouts in his last four appearances.

UPCOMING HOMESTAND PROMOTIONS: (7/22) Camp Day (12:05 PM). (7/30) Thursday Night In Your Face Fireworks Survivor Night & Superhero Jerseys presented by Your Local Ford Dealers. (7/31) "Up For Whatever" Night, Free Shirt Fridays and Happy Hour presented by Bud Light. (8/1) Superblast Saturday/Star Wars Night. (8/2) Kids Club Nutzy Cape Giveaway & ASK Night. (8/4) Charlottesville Community Night. (8/5) Tri-Cities Community Night, Tribute to Peanuts. (8/6) Thursday Night In Your Face Fireworks and Faith Night #2

AKRON STARTING PITCHER: RHP Mike Clevinger (6-5, 2.85)

Clevinger will make his 19th start for the RubberDucks in 2015 and second against the Squirrels today. He pitched against Richmond on Independence Day (5.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 1 HR, 4 K). The right-hander has 93 strikeouts, which is the second most in the Eastern League. He documented arguably his best outing with a season long 7.2 innings and a season high nine strikeouts on June 29. The 24-year-old is in his first season at the Double-A level. The Angels originally drafted Clevinger in the fourth round in 2011. He spent his first three seasons with there before being traded mid-season during 2014. Following that year, the Indians ranked him as their #22 prospect in their system. Clevinger attended Seminole State (FL), a junior college, prior to his current big league pursuit.

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Eastern League Stories from July 22, 2015


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