Flying Squirrels Game Notes vs. Altoona
Published on July 17, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release
Richmond Flying Squirrels (49-47) vs. Altoona Curve (44-49)
Tuesday, July 17th -- 7:05 PM
The Diamond -- Richmond, VA
Game # 97 - Home Game # 46
Radio: Sports Radio 910 AM (6:35 PM) Internet: sportsradio910.com
LHP Mike Kickham (7-7, 2.72) vs. RHP Tim Alderson (4-3, 3.58)
SERIES AT A GLANCE: The Flying Squirrels will aim for their fourth straight win when they take on the Altoona Curve game two of a three-game series at The Diamond tonight. Last night, Tommy Joseph went 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs and Mark Minicozzi went 4-for-5 to lead the Flying Squirrels to a 5-3 victory over the Curve. Richmond starter Chris Heston (7-4) allowed two earned runs in five and 1/3 innings of work to earn his first win since June 7. The Flying Squirrels fell behind 2-0 in the opening frame, but Richmond scored a run in five straight innings (the 3rd through the 7th) to claim the lead. Daryl Maday tossed one and a third innings of scoreless relief to earn his ninth save of the season. Altoona starter Brandon Cumpton (3-2) was charged with the loss after giving up seven hits and three earned runs in five innings pitched. The Squirrels have won eight of their last nine games. The Flying Squirrels went 9-8 against Altoona in 2011 including a 5-6 mark in Altoona. Richmond is 25-31 all-time against the Curve and the club is 15-11 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: LHP Mike Kickham vs. RHP Tim Alderson Kickham: Makes his nineteenth start of the season for the Flying Squirrels tonight. In his last start, Kickham allowing four hits and one unearned run along with three walks and three strikeouts in a career-high 7.2 innings pitched at Harrisburg Thursday. He earned his seventh win in Richmond's 12-3 triumph. Tonight's game will be Kickham's fourth career start against Altoona. He is 1-2 with a 4.61 ERA against the Curve. Kickham is currently leading the Eastern League in walks (55) and he ranks third in opponents' batting average (.224) and fourth in earned run average (2.72). Last season, Kickham went 5-10 and posted a 4.11 ERA in 21 starts with Low-A Augusta. He entered the 2012 season ranked as the #20 prospect in the Giants farm system. As a professional, Kickham owns an 12-17 record with a 3.57 ERA in 42 career minor league appearances, including 39 starts. Kickham enjoyed a successful, albeit brief, career at Missouri State University, where he finished fifth in school history in single-season strikeouts (106) and won the team's Dave Dickensheet Pitcher-of-the-Year award in his lone season with the Bears. The St. Louis, MO native was selected by the Giants in the sixth round of the 2010 June Draft as a draft-eligible sophomore. He signed with San Francisco for a $410,000 bonus.
Alderson: Makes his twenty-second appearance and his eleventh start of the season tonight. Alderson made four relief appearances with Altoona at the start of the season, before a promotion to Triple-A Indianapolis, where he went 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA in two appearances. Since joining Altoona's starting rotation on May 15, Alderson is 3-2 with a 3.86 ERA in ten starts. As a reliever, Alderson went 1-1 with three saves and a 2.65 ERA in nine appearances. Tonight's game will be his fourteenth career appearance and sixth start against the Flying Squirrels. He is 2-3 with one save and a 4.83 ERA against Richmond. The right-hander has spent parts of the last four seasons (2009-12) with the Curve. Last season, Alderson went 0-4 with a 4.12 ERA in 42 appearances, including one start with Altoona. Alderson has a career record of 38-23 with three saves and a 4.06 ERA in 144 appearances, including 89 starts. Originally drafted by the Giants in the first round of the 2007 June Draft, Alderson was traded to Pittsburgh in a deal that sent infielder Freddy Sanchez to San Francisco on July 29, 2009.
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD: Squirrels first baseman Mark Minicozzi enjoyed a productive night at the plate in last night's win over Altoona. Minicozzi went 4-for-5 to record the second four-hit game in his career. He originally accomplished the feat on August 22, 2005 in a game against Spokane, while he played for Salem-Keizer, the Giants' Short-Season Class A affiliate in the Northwest League. In his last nine games, Minicozzi is batting .353 (12-for-34) with two doubles, three RBIs and three runs scored.
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. Prior to converting to a starter, Gloor went 1-1 with a 2.97 ERA in 19 relief appearances, which includes a team-high 19.2 consecutive scoreless innings.
BIRTHDAY BASH: Richmond catcher Tommy Joseph enjoyed a memorable 21st birthday against Altoona last 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.
Eastern League Stories from July 17, 2012
- 'Wolves Down Baysox...Close Gap to Four Games in Wild Card - Erie SeaWolves
- Squirrels Fly by Curve In, 10-2 Loss - Altoona Curve
- Squirrels Annihilate Altoona, 10-2 - Richmond Flying Squirrels
- Marisnick Singles Fisher Cats to 6-5 Win - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Balk Buries B-Mets in 5-4 Loss - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Mainer Mike MacDonald Stymies Reading 7-0 - Portland Sea Dogs
- Aeros Come From Behind Again to Beat Senators, 3-2 - Akron RubberDucks
- Another Late Comeback Gives Thunder Fourth Straight Win - Trenton Thunder
- Fisher Cats Edge Rock Cats, 6-5 - New Britain Rock Cats
- Schoop Homers Again, But Baysox Come up Short - Chesapeake Baysox
- Senators Drop Fourth Straight Game, 3-2 to Akron - Harrisburg Senators
- Senators Home for Seven Games Beginning Thursday - Harrisburg Senators
- Erie Seawolvs vs. Bowie Baysox - Game Notes - Erie SeaWolves
- Sea Dogs Game Notes - Portland Sea Dogs
- Former Fisher Cat Anthony Gose Promoted to Big Leagues - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Flying Squirrels Game Notes vs. Altoona - Richmond Flying Squirrels
- B-Mets Game Notes: vs. Trenton Thunder - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
