EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Flying Squirrels Game Notes: vs. Altoona

Published on July 16, 2015 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


Richmond Flying Squirrels (SF) (45-43)

vs.

Altoona Curve (PIT) (48-41)

Thursday, July 16th -- 7:05 PM

The Diamond -- Richmond, VA

Game #89 - Road Game #47

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

RHP Edwin Quirarte (0-1, 3.53) vs. RHP Tyler Glasnow (3-2, 2.45)

Friday, July 17th ALT 5:35 PM (DH) LHP Kelvin Marte (7-2, 2.54) vs RHP Chad Kuhl (7-3, 2.89)/TBA vs. TBA Fox Sports 910/FoxSportsRichmond.com

Saturday, July 18th ALT 6:05 PM LHP Adalberto Mejia (4-1, 2.78) vs. LHP Steven Brault (1-3, 4.74) Fox Sports 910/FoxSportsRichmond.com

Sunday, July 19th ALT 1:35 PM RHP Joe Biagini (7-5, 1.91) vs. LHP Zack Dodson (4-6, 3.78) Fox Sports 910/FoxSportsRichmond.com

Press Box Feed - In honor of Jon Laaser's departure, this will be the last press box feed tidbit of the year. The post-Laaser era will begin with a moment of silence over a crispy leg of Bojangles Chicken. A spoonful of dirty rice will be poured out in his honor. Additionally, a reminder that the "Flying Squirrels/MJBL Third Annual Regional Youth Baseball Tournament will take place on July 18-19, 2015 at Ironbridge Park in Chesterfield County for youth 12 and under participating in a Recreation Association. This tournament is being offered for FREE to all teams." The umpires and coaches from MJBL, Eastern League and the Flying Squirrels will be meeting in the PFG picnic zone around 5:15. All will be available for sound and video. Also, make sure to say hello to the Voice of the UVA Cavaliers Baseball program Channing Poole, as he will be joining me on the remaining home broadcasts.

SERIES AT A GLANCE: The Flying Squirrels prepare for an extensive five-game series with the Altoona Curve (Pittsburgh Pirates) to open the gates following the All-Star break. Richmond has not crossed paths with Altoona since early May (5/4-5/7). That series marked a sudden jolt upwards. The Squirrels snapped their 15-game losing streak on May 4 and ultimately swept the Curve in four contests on the road. Today marks Altoona's first trip to The Diamond since April, which was just the second series of the season for Richmond (4/13-4/15). The middle game of that early showdown was postponed due to rain and will be made up this Friday as part of a doubleheader. The Squirrels are 5-1 this year against the Curve. Richmond has tallied 10 runs or more four times this year and two of these instances have come against Altoona. These two clubs will tangle 14 more times during the regular season and once more at The Diamond following this series (8/14-8/16). The Curve has been stationed at the top of the Western Division for most of the season, but recently took a slight step back. Altoona went 3-11 from June 23 to July 6 and currently sits in second place.

HOPEFULLY ENERGIZED: The Flying Squirrels needed the All-Star vacation. Prior to these two straight off days, Richmond did not have a scheduled off day since June 15. The team has played in four extra inning games in July and they played in 28 games in 28 days heading into the break. In six games since June 21, the Squirrels were forced to start relief pitchers and this included two of the four games in the final series before this break. Joan Gregorio made his first start of the season on July 11 and lasted just two innings. Reliever Edwin Quirarte was strong with six innings and just one run. Also, the Squirrels did not receive help from regular starter Adalberto Mejia in the final game before the All-Star break. The southpaw lasted just 2.2 innings and that left the rest of the game on the bullpen's shoulders. Despite the latest downfall from two of these pitchers, the starters have displayed consistency as far as innings are concerned. Richmond starting pitchers have last six frames of more in 10 of the 13 games in July.

ALL-STAR ROUNDUP: The Eastern League All-Star game finished in extremely rare fashion Wednesday night. The two divisions were tied with four runs each after nine innings. Extra innings were not an option in this game so both sides dueled in a Home Run Derby Shootout. Brian Pointer (Reading) hit the only homer in what turned into a sudden death format to crown the East Division victorious. Richmond shortstop Rando Moreno drove in the first run for the West Division on a groundout. Ricky Oropesa came off the bench to fill the DH spot in the lineup and went 0-2. The Squirrels first baseman also came in second place in the Home Run Derby prior to the game. Joe Biagini was the starting pitching for the West (1 IP, 2 H, 1 R). Kelvin Marte was used in the fifth inning and tossed a scoreless frame.

DUCKS ON THE POND: It has been a tough puzzle to solve when it comes to Richmond driving in runs. The Squirrels went 3-23 with runners in scoring position against Trenton (7/10-7/13). This team is second to last in the Eastern League this year with a .245 average in this circumstance. Richmond is only hitting .217 (22-101) with runners in scoring position this month. The best performance this month in these situations occurred on July 9 when the club went 6-12. The run producers, Devin Harris and Ricky Oropesa, are both hitting below .245 when the chances arise to drive in runs.

DOWN TO THE WIRE: After Sunday's action, the Squirrels participated in their ninth game decided by two runs of less in July. Richmond is 3-6 in these contests. Seven of these games have been determined by just one run and this includes three of the previous four games before the All-Star break. The Squirrels have notched six hits or fewer three times in the one-run battles.

UPCOMING HOMESTAND PROMOTIONS: (7/16) In Your Face Fireworks/JMU Night. (7/17) Free Shirt Fridays/Happy Hour & Ladies Night/VT Night & Book Drive presented by AAA. (7/18) Superblast Saturday & VUU 150th Anniversary Celebration. (7/19) Team Poster Giveaway/Autograph Session/VSU Day presented by Coke Zero. (7/20) Bark in the Park #2 presented by VCA. (7/21) Joe Panik <> Giveaway (1,500 All Ages)/University of Richmond Night. (7/22) Camp Day (12:05 PM).

RICHMOND STARTING PITCHER: Edwin Quirarte (0-1, 3.53)

Quirarte prepares for his fourth start and 16th appearance for the Squirrels this season. The right-hander has been brilliant in a role he has recently transitioned to. He has started in three of his last four appearances and logged six innings in back-to-back outings (7/7, 7/12). These two six-innings performances are his longest outings with the Giants organization since 2008. Quirarte started this season in the Independent Atlantic League before San Francisco decided to acquire him again in May after the organization did not re-sign him after 2014. The 28-year-old has spent the last five seasons with the Flying Squirrels. Quirarte was selected in the fifth round by the Giants in 2008.

ALTOONA STARTING PITCHER: Tyler Glasnow (3-2, 2.45)

Glasnow will make his 10th start for the Curve and second against the Squirrels this season. The right-hander's shortest outing with Altoona occurred on May 6 against Richmond. Glasnow lasted only three innings and allowed two runs on three hits. He sprained his ankle sliding into second base during that start against the Squirrels and eventually ended up on the Disabled List. Glasnow was sent down to A (Short) West Virginia for two rehab starts in June (5.1 IP total). The 21-year-old has displayed command recently with a total of 22 strikeouts compared to three walks in his last three starts with Altoona. Glasnow was tremendous for A(Adv) Bradenton in 2014 with a 1.74 ERA (1st in the Florida State League) and 157 strikeouts. The California native was ranked the #1 prospect in the Pirates system following 2014 by Baseball America. He was selected in the fifth round in 2011 by Pittsburgh.

Check out the Richmond Flying Squirrels Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Eastern League Stories from July 16, 2015


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.

OurSports Central