Flying Squirrels Game Notes: vs. Binghamton
May 11, 2015 - Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release
Richmond Flying Squirrels (SF) (9-18) vs. Binghamton Mets (NYM) (18-12)
Monday, May 11th -- 6:35 PM
The Diamond -- Richmond, VA
Game #28 - Home Game #16
Radio: Fox Sports 910 (6:00 PM) Internet: FoxSportsRichmond.com
LHP Jack Snodgrass (2-3, 5.04) vs. RHP Seth Lugo (2-0, 1.47)
TONIGHT'S PRESS BOX FEED: Tonight marks the third outing of the year for the wild and wonderful Wing Zone. Wing Zone sports a 1-1 record on the season, and is looking to bounce back after the Squirrels were shutout, 5-0, by Reading the last time Wing Zone provided the spread. Despite the loss, the media was pleased with the outing, as Wing Zone rediscovered a lacking secondary pitch (Bacon Disks) and mixed them in effectively with the chicken strips and fries that they've always been known for. Get here early as Michael Scholze and I did some light physical work today during a taping of FSI and are accordingly famished.
SERIES AT A GLANCE: The Squirrels will meet the Binghamton Mets (New York Mets) for the first time in 2015 as they open a three-game series at The Diamond. It marks the first meeting between the two since the B-Mets swept the Squirrels in the 2014 Eastern League Championship, denying Richmond its first EL title, while claiming their first in 20 years. The last time the clubs saw each other, the B-Mets were frolicking at NYSEG Stadium after Jayce Boyd hit a walk-off game-winning single off of lefty Steven Okert. This is the first of two trips to Richmond for the B-Mets, who will also visit the River City for four games starting on July 30th. The Squirrels will travel to the Southern Tier just once, and not until August 18th. The two teams will meet 10 times on the year. The B-Mets hold a 19-16 edge in the all-time series and are currently in second place in the Eastern Division (18-12). The Squirrels were spoiled in their bid for a franchise-record tying seventh straight win yesterday, and enter this series tied for 5th in the Western Division. RHP Seth Lugo (Bio Below) will make the start for the B-Mets against Richmond LHP Jack Snodgrass, Interestingly, this will mark just the third time in his career that Snodgrass will face the B-Mets.
CHAMPIONSHIP REVISITED: This three-game series will have a familiar feel to the 2014 Eastern League Championship series, due to the presence of a number of players who were on the respective teams. Binghamton has 14 players on their current roster that were members of the team that defeated Richmond in a three-game sweep. The Squirrels currently have 15 players, counting those that were on the Disabled List either then or now, that were part of the Squirrels' Western Division Championship team.
SNOOP...SNOOP-A-LOOP: The Squirrels had their six-game win-streak snapped on Sunday, blanked by Bowie, 2-0. However, the stretch was remarkable in the fact that it immediately followed a record-breaking 15-game slide. During the run, the Squirrels outscored their opponents (Altoona/Bowie) 30-14. The Squirrels averaged better than eight hits per game during the streak, having notched 49 total (8.2 per game). That includes three double-digit hit performances. With the streak snapped, the franchise-record remains seven in a row, which occurred during the team's inaugural season in 2010 (4/27-5/3).
BAD BREAKUP: Inspired by the Sunday clubhouse stylings of Miley Cyrus, the Squirrels won their first 13 Sunday games of the 2014 season. The feat was chronicled by Milb.com. Things seemed to have soured between the team and the singer however. The Squirrels are currently winless on Sundays in 2015 (0-5). Sunday is in fact the only day of the week that the Squirrels have yet to record a win. Each Sunday game has been a day game, and the Squirrels have struggled in those contests in general. Richmond is presently 1-8 during the daytime this season.
BRING ON THE AMERICAN LEAGUE: Although the affiliation switch in New Britain (Minnesota -> Colorado) has balanced the Eastern League with six National League and six American League affiliates, the Squirrels have played 18 of their first 27 games against National League affiliates. Richmond is 5-13 in those contests in which the pitchers bat for themselves. Thus far on the year, Squirrels' hurlers are a combined 4-for-31 (.129) at the plate. The only American League affiliate the Squirrels have played is Bowie, who they host in this series. The DH will be out of play during this three-game series with the B-Mets. However, the Squirrels will have the DH during their entire upcoming road trip.
WHY YOU GOTTA BRING UP OLD BLEEP?: Although the Squirrels snapped their losing streak a week ago in Altoona, it figures to live on in the team's record book. During the 15-game slide, the Squirrels were outscored 82-38, enduring four blowout (5+ run differential) losses, and were shut out four times. The Squirrels' previous franchise mark for consecutive losses was seven games. They last lost seven straight from July 8th-July 15th, 2013. They also dropped seven straight in 2010.
DIAL "O" FOR LEFTY: Richmond closer Josh Osich recorded saves in three consecutive ballgames (5/7-5/9), a career first. In fact, it marks the first time in his career that he has been allowed to pitch on three consecutive days. The Oregon State product threw an inning in each of the ballgames. He also earned a save in Altoona on Tuesday, making it four saves in the span of five games. As a club, Richmond recorded a save in five consecutive ballgames. during their win-streak RHP Jose Casilla recorded a save in the game that Osich did not pitch in. Remarkably, the Squirrels had recorded just one team save (Osich) through their first 20 games of the year.
BINGHAMTON STARTING PITCHER: RHP Seth Lugo (2-0, 1.47)
Lugo, 25, was originally a 34th round selection of the Mets out of Centenary College of Louisiana. When Lugo pitched for Centenary it was Division-1 program, but has since been redesignated as a Division-3 program. He is making his Double-A debut this season for the B-Mets, and is off to a phenomenal start, having allowed just three earned runs across his first four starts. He is a bit old for the level, but that is due to lumbar fusion (back) surgery that was required in 2012. That cost him the entire 2012 season, and much of the 2013 season as well. He got back on the mound more consistently last season, making 27 appearances - 4 starts - for Advanced-A St. Lucie. He posted an 8-3 record and a 4.11 ERA, racking up 114 strikeouts in 105.0 innings. He faces the Squirrels for the first time tonight.
Eastern League Stories from May 11, 2015
- SeaWolves and Ducks Suspended, Will Play Two on Tuesday - Erie SeaWolves
- RubberDucks and SeaWolves Game Suspended in 5th Inning - Akron RubberDucks
- Seventh Heaven (And Hell) Seals 4-3 Loss - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Comeback Curve Take Game One, 7-4 - Altoona Curve
- Sea Dogs Rally Late for 2-1 Win - Portland Sea Dogs
- Squirrels Slip Past B-Mets in Opener, 4-3 - Richmond Flying Squirrels
- Furious Rally Falls One Run Short in Ninth Inning - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Miscues Overwhelm Baysox in 7-4 Loss - Chesapeake Baysox
- Fightin Phils denied late comeback - Reading Fightin Phils
- Senators Take Series Opener from Reading - Harrisburg Senators
- Erie SeaWolves vs. Akron RubberDucks - Game Notes - Erie SeaWolves
- Flying Squirrels Game Notes: vs. Binghamton - Richmond Flying Squirrels
- Rock Cats LHP Yohan Flande Named EL Pitcher of the Week - New Britain Rock Cats
- B-Mets Game Notes: Game #31- B-Mets (18-12) at Richmond Flying Squirrels (9-18) - 6:35 pm - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Charles Announced as Eastern League Player of the Week - Reading Fightin Phils
- Sea Dogs Game Notes and Roster Move May 11 vs. Trenton (Game 31) - Portland Sea Dogs
- Eastern League Weekly Award Winners Announced for May 4-10 - EL1
- Baysox 1K Beer Run this Sunday - Chesapeake Baysox
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