EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Flying Squirrels Game Notes vs Binghamton

Published on July 31, 2015 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


Richmond Flying Squirrels (SF) (53-51) vs. Binghamton Mets (NYM) (58-46)

Friday, July 31th -- 7:05 PM

The Diamond -- Richmond, VA

Game #105 - Home Game #56

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

RHP Joe Biagini (8-5, 2.15) vs. RHP Seth Lugo (6-4, 3.20)

Saturday, August 1st BIN 6:05 PM RHP Tyler Beede (2-4, 4.95) vs. RHP Gabriel Ynoa (7-7, 3.75)

Sunday, August 2nd BIN 1:35 PM RHP Joan Gregorio (1-1, 3.52) vs. RHP Michael Fulmert (6-2, 1.88)

TODAY'S FEED: Chicken Fiesta provides us with some scrumptious food in hopes to snap this current losing streak. In addition, we may need to make some changes within the press box with the trade deadline looming (4pm today) to help bolster the mood...maybe have one of the broadcasters, Channing Poole, umpire the game instead of calling it or give Jay Burnham the microphone to sing the National Anthem. I think I may even deliver the starting lineups backwards today. Go Squirrels!

SERIES AT A GLANCE: The offense and bullpen completely dissolved for the Squirrels as they fell 11-3 to the Binghamton Mets in game one of this four-game series. Richmond's bullpen accounted for 10 of the 11 runs. The Squirrels archived just five hits in this game, despite the score being 3-3 after six innings. Binghamton racked up 18 hits, which is the most an opponent has compiled against the RVA in a game this season. In addition, eight of those hits were for extra bases (five doubles, three triples). This is the first time these two teams have played one another since their first collision at The Diamond mid May (5/11-5/13). Richmond took two of the three games and this included the finale they won thanks to a Mitch Delfino walk-off hit in the 10th inning. The Squirrels bullpen was impressive in this series with 12 scoreless innings scattered over the three contests. This is the second of three meetings between these two clubs during the regular season. They will face off again in mid August (8/18-8/20) in Binghamton, NY and this will be the second to last ballpark Richmond discovers in 2015 (@ Akron, 8/27-8/30). The Mets are currently stationed atop the Eastern Division and have claimed five of their previous six series. During that span, Binghamton won 11 of 12 games earlier in July (7/9-7/22). They also hold the best record in July (18-9) and the lowest ERA during this month as a pitching staff (2.00). In 2014, Binghamton defeated Richmond in the Eastern League Championship series in three games.

LACKING THE "W": The Flying Squirrels are currently on a six-game losing streak and that is the second longest skid this season. The club lost by eight runs, 11-3, Thursday and that is the second highest deficit they have experienced this year. Richmond dropped the final five games during the recent seven-game road trip and in the last two contests posted two goose eggs in the run column (0-3, 0-1). Richmond was swept by Altoona to complete the trip and that was the first time they had gotten swept since early May (5/1-5/3) against New Britian, plus these were also the last three losses of 15-games losing streak. The RVA went through 23 innings without a run (started in the eighth inning on July 27) until the fourth inning on Thursday. The offense has taken a step back with just 16 hits in the last four games. Before that, the Squirrels outhit Erie 12-10, but managed to lose 10-1 as they left a season high 14 runners on base. Aside from the 15-game debacle way back at the beginning of the season, Richmond also dropped four consecutive contests in late June (6/24-6/29) and that is the third longest. The Squirrels lost the final three games of a four-game series with the Trenton Thunder and then game one of a weekend showdown with the New Britain Rock Cats. Richmond was outhit 15-3 in the defeats to the Thunder. The club compiled a forgetful season high 29 scoreless innings offensively in late June and that occured during most of this losing stretch.

TAKE YOUR BASE: Ricky Oropesa has turned into a walking machine. The first baseman has earned at least one free pass in each of his last seven games. He walked three times in a game on July 26 for the first time this season. In total, he has 29 walks and nine of them have come since July 24. Oropesa has more base on balls than hits from the span of July 18 until now (9 BB, 6 H).

ICE THE ARMS: The bullpen has attempted to carry a heavy load and for the most part there has been too much weight. Adalberto Mejia was expected to start on Thursday, but was instead placed on the disabled list (left shoulder). So, Edwin Quirarte was summoned to make a surprise start with late notice. He recorded a career high eight strikeouts and let up just one run, but could only last four innings. Quirarte worked on only two days rest after he threw 56 pitches in 2.2 innings on July 27, also the day he came of the disabled list. Meanwhile, the remainder of Thursday was left to the bullpen. The most earned runs allowed by a reliever in a game is four. Phil McCormick and Braulio Lara yielded four earned runs each in their respective outings. Richmond has now had five instances where a bullpen arm has issued four earned runs in an appearance this season and three of them have occured in the last four days.

BLINK OF AN EYE...BACKFIRED: Richmond wrapped up the final game of the road trip on Wednesday in a speedy one hour and 54 minutes. This shattered the record books to become the shortest nine-inning contest in Flying Squirrels franchise history. The previous record was two hours and seven minutes and that happened twice, the last time was not since 2011. Richmond did not have a single runner in scoring position on Wednesday, It was only fitting that the shortest nine inning game in franchise history was abruptly followed by the longest nine inning game this season. The Squirrels and Mets played a three hour and 33 minute contest Thursday, which easily bulldozed over the previous season high of three hours and 17 minutes on April 26.

UPCOMING HOMESTAND PROMOTIONS: (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

BINGHAMTON STARTING PITCHER: RHP Seth Lugo (6-4, 3.20)

Lugo will make his 18th start for the Mets this season and second against the Squirrels. He faced Richmond on May 11 (6 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 8 K). The 25-year-old has been sharp in of late. In his last two starts (7/20, 7/26), he has thrown a total of 14 innings (seven in each), recorded 16 strikeouts, and only surrendered one run. In fact, he has only given up one earned run in his last 25 innings (over last four starts). Lugo was drafted in the 34th round by the Mets in 2011. This is his first season in Double-A. In 2014, he was utilized as a relief pitcher while at St. Lucie (A+) with 27 appearances and only four starts. He finished with 114 strikeouts and 38 walks (105 IP) which ranked him second amongst relievers in the Florida State League in highest SO/9 IP ratio. Lugo played his college ball at Centenary College in Louisiana (Division III).

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Eastern League Stories from July 31, 2015


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