EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Flying Squirrels Game Notes vs. Bowie

Published on April 30, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


Richmond Flying Squirrels (11-12) vs. Bowie Baysox (9-14)

Monday, April 30th -- 6:35 PM

The Diamond -- Richmond, VA

Game # 24 - Home Game # 11

Radio: Sports Radio 910 AM (6:05 PM) Internet: sportsradio910.com

RHP Chris Heston (1-2, 1.13) vs. LHP Cole McCurry (0-3, 5.30)

SERIES AT A GLANCE: The Flying Squirrels will seek to get back on the winning track and even their overall record when they take on the Bowie Baysox in the opener of a three-game series at The Diamond tonight. Yesterday, New Britain starter Logan Darnell kept the Squirrels' offense in check throughout the ballgame as he scattered seven hits and allowed just two earned runs in 6.2 innings of the Rock Cats' 5-2 triumph in the series finale. As a result, Richmond's three-game win streak was snapped and the Squirrels were thwarted in their attempt to complete their first series sweep of the season. Gary Brown went 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI and Juan Perez posted a 2-for-4 performance for Richmond. The Flying Squirrels went 9-16 against Bowie in 2011 including a 6-6 mark at The Diamond. Richmond is 26-30 all-time against Bowie and the club is 14-12 all-time in the River City. The two teams will meet 24 times in 2012, 10 times in Bowie and 14 times in Richmond. Richmond won two out of three games between the two clubs in Bowie April 9-11. Following this three-game series, the two teams will meet again at The Diamond May 10 through May 14.

TODAY'S PITCHERS: RHP Chris Heston vs. LHP Cole McCurry Heston: Makes his fifth start of the season for the Flying Squirrels tonight. In his last start, Heston allowed just one unearned run and six hits along with a season-high seven strikeouts and no walks in seven innings pitched at Reading Wednesday. He took the loss in Richmond's 1-0 setback. Tonight's game will be his first career appearance against Bowie. He currently ranks second in the Eastern League in earned run average (1.13) and third in WHIP (0.88). 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 19-24 record with a 3.36 ERA in 65 career minor league appearances, including 60 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.

McCurry: Makes his fifth start of the season tonight. In his last start, McCurry allowed a seven hits and four runs, three of which were earned, along with two walks and two strikeouts in 4.0 innings pitched against Akron Tuesday. He took the loss in Bowie's 5-1 setback. The southpaw split the 2011 season between three different Baltimore affiliates, Advanced-A Frederick, Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk. In 37 combined appearances, all of which came in relief, McCurry compiled a 9-3 record with no saves and a 2.57 ERA.

He split the 2010 campaign between Low-A Delmarva and Frederick and posted a combined 5-7 record with two saves and a 4.35 ERA in 31 appearances, including 13 starts. In 143 career minor league appearances, including 80 starts, McCurry owns a 38-36 record with two saves and a 3.50 ERA. He was selected by the Twins in the 43rd round of the 2007 June Draft out of Tennessee Wesleyan College.

SOUTHPAW STRUGGLES: Yesterday's loss to New Britain's Logan Darnell, a southpaw, dropped the Flying Squirrels record against lefty starters to just 1-5 on the season. Richmond is 1-2 against lefties at home and 0-3 against southpaws on the road. The Flying Squirrels are currently batting .234 (34-for-145) against lefties for the season and have scored just 11 runs against left-handed pitching. Conversely, Richmond is batting .264 (160-for-607) against right-handed pitching and the Flying Squirrels have scored 70 runs against right-handed pitchers.

WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR YOU: Although he is hitting just. 224 for the season, Flying Squirrels center fi elder Gary Brown is coming off a solid series at the plate. In three games against New Britain, Brown batted .286 (4-14) with a double and four RBIs. Brown is batting .250 (10-for-40) and has driven in 9 of his 11 RBIs in his last 10 games.. The Flying Squirrels own an all-time record of 68-87 (.439) on the road.

ROCK CHALK...: In his first season with Richmond, Brett Bochy has yet to allow a run in eight appearances (12.2 IP). The former Kansas Jayhawk is 1-0 with one save after skipping over High-A San Jose. He has allowed 3 of 6 inherited runners to score.

HOME SWEET HOME: The Flying Squirrels will look to continue their winning ways at The Diamond as they continue their home stand tonight. Richmond is 6-4 at The Diamond this season and has posted winning records in the River City in both 2010 (37-33) and 2011 (45-26). The Flying Squirrels boast an all-time record of 88-63 (.583) at The Diamond.

Check out the Richmond Flying Squirrels Statistics

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