EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Flying Squirrels Game Notes vs. Altoona

Published on July 16, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


Richmond Flying Squirrels (48-47) vs. Altoona Curve (44-48)

Monday, July 16th -- 7:05 PM

The Diamond -- Richmond, VA

Game # 96 - Home Game # 45

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

RHP Chris Heston (6-4, 2.24) vs. RHP Brandon Cumpton (8-7, 3.40)

SERIES AT A GLANCE: The Flying Squirrels will aim for their third straight win when they take on the Altoona Curve in the opener of a three-game series at the Diamond tonight. On Sunday afternoon, Richmond scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning and then staved off a late rally from Harrisburg in the bottom of the frame to claim an 8-7 victory in the series finale against the Senators at Metro Bank Park. As a result, Richmond won four of the five games in the series and has now won seven of its last eight games. Juan Perez went 4-for-4 with a triple, three RBIs, two runs scored and a stolen base and Juan Ciriaco went 4-for-5 and delivered a two-run single in the top of the ninth, which proved to be the game-winning hit. Edwin Quirarte (3-0) earned the win in relief for Richmond and Harrisburg reliever Erik Davis (7-3) was charged with the loss. Flying Squirrels reliever Ari Ronick stranded the potential tying and winning runs by retiring three straight hitters with runners at second and third to earn his first save of the season. The Flying Squirrels went 9-8 against Altoona in 2011 including a 5-6 mark in Altoona. Richmond is 24-31 all-time against the Curve and the club is 14-11 all-time at The Diamond. The two teams will meet 21 times in 2012, 14 times in Altoona and 7 times in Richmond. Richmond won three of the first four games between the two teams at The Diamond (4/12-/4/15) and Altoona took two out of three from the Squirrels in an abbreviated three-game series in Altoona (4/19-4/22). Altoona took three of four from Richmond at Peoples Natural Gas Field (5/4-5/6). and two out of three against the Flying Squirrels in Altoona (5/29-5/31). Following this three-game series, the Flying Squirrels and the Curve will meet again in Altoona in late August (8/23-8/26).

TODAY'S PITCHERS: RHP Chris Heston vs. RHP Brandon Cumpton Heston: Makes his eighteenth start of the season for the Flying Squirrels tonight. In his last start, Heston matched his career-high by allowing 11 hits and a season-high five earned runs along with no walks and three strikeouts in five innings pitched against Binghamton July 5. He took the loss in Richmond's 5-1 setback. Tonight's game will be Heston's third career start against Altoona. He is 0-1 with a 1.50 ERA against the Curve. Heston is currently leading the Eastern League in earned run average (2.24) and he ranks third in WHIP (1.08) and fourth in strikeouts (91). Last season, Heston went 12-4 and posted a 3.16 ERA, which led the California League, in 24 starts with Advanced-A San Jose. His 12 wins tied him for second in the circuit behind current Squirrels teammate Craig Westcott. As a result, the 24-year-old right-hander was named a California League Mid-Season All-Star. Heston's success in San Jose came on the heels of a middling season with Low-A Augusta, in which he compiled a 5-13 mark with a 3.75 ERA in 26 starts in 2010. Heston owns a 24-26 record with a 3.23 ERA in 78 career minor league appearances, including 73 starts. The Palm Bay, Fla. native was originally selected by Minnesota in the 47th round of the 2007 June Draft, but he did not sign. He also did not sign after being picked by Washington in the 29th round of the 2008 June Draft. He signed with San Francisco after the Giants selected him in the 12th round of the 2009 June Draft out of East Carolina University.

Cumpton: Makes his eighteenth start of the season for Altoona tonight. In his last start, Cumpton allowed five hits and six runs, four of which were earned, along with two walks and four strikeouts in three innings pitched against Binghamton July 8. He took the loss in Altoona's 10-9 setback. Tonight's game will be his fifth career start against the Flying Squirrels. He is 3-1 with a 1.75 ERA against Richmond. Cumpton currently ranks ninth in the Eastern League in ERA (3.40) and fifth in WHIP (1.13). The right-hander is in his first season with the Curve after splitting the 2011 season between Low-A West Virginia and Advanced-A Bradenton.

He began the season with West Virginia and went 7-4 with a 4.30 ERA in 13 appearances, including 12 starts with the Power.

Following a midseason promotion, Cumpton compiled a 3-3 mark with 3.66 ERA in 13 appearances, including 12 starts. He has a career record of 18-15 with a 3.68 ERA in 47 appearances, including 44 starts. Cumpton was selected by the Pirates in the ninth round of the 2010 June Draft out of Georgia Tech.

ME GUSTA MAYORA: Squirrels third baseman Daniel Mayora is swinging a hot bat. He went 2-for-2 with two doubles, two runs scored, a walk two HBP in yesterday's win. Mayora finished the series at Harrisburg 11-for-15 with a home run, four doubles and six RBIs. He was named Eastern League Player-of-the-Week for the week of July 9th-15th, becoming the third Squirrel to earn a weekly honor from the league this season and the first position player.

THE GREAT GLOOR: Richmond's Chris Gloor continues to thrive on the mound. Since joining the starting rotation last month.

Gloor is 1-0 with a 0.42 ERA in four starts (21.1P). Richmond has won all four games that Gloor has started.

THE REAL DON JUAN: Richmond outfielder Juan Perez has enjoyed a banner start to the second half of the season. In Richmond's five-game series at Harrisburg, Perez went 10-18 (.556) with a home run, a triple, a double, six RBIs and five runs scored. In the four games prior to the July 10-11 All-Star break, Perez suffered a mini-slump when he went 3-for-22 (.136).

Check out the Richmond Flying Squirrels Statistics

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Eastern League Stories from July 16, 2012


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