EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Flying Squirrels Game Notes vs. Bowie

Published on May 13, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


Richmond Flying Squirrels (18-18) vs. Bowie Baysox (15-20)

Sunday, May 13th -- 2:05 PM

The Diamond -- Richmond, VA

Game # 37 - Home Game # 18

Radio: Sports Radio 910 AM (1:35 PM) Internet: sportsradio910.com

RHP Justin Fitzgerald (2-1, 2.70) vs. RHP Tim Bascom (2-1, 4.35)

SERIES AT A GLANCE: The Flying Squirrels will look for the third straight win against the Bowie Baysox in the finale of a four-game series at The Diamond today. Last night, Johnny Monell smacked two solo home runs and Mike Kickham tossed 6.1 scoreless innings to lead Richmond to a 2-0 victory over Bowie. It was the fourth multi-HR game in Monell's career. Daniel Mayora went 1-for-3 and extended his hit streak to eight games. The Flying Squirrels went 9-16 against Bowie in 2011 including a 6-6 mark at The Diamond. Richmond is 30-33 all-time against Bowie and the club is 18-15 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 and the two teams split a four-game series at The Diamond last week (4/30-5/3). Following this four-game series, the two teams will meet again at Bowie's Prince George's Stadium for a four-game set May 21 through May 24.

TODAY'S PITCHERS: RHP Justin Fitzgerald vs. RHP Tim Bascom Fitzgerald: Makes his eighth start of the season for the Flying Squirrels today. In his last start, Fitzgerald allowed five hits and along with two walks and eight strikeouts in 8.1 scoreless innings pitched at Harrisburg Monday. He earned the win in Richmond's 2-0 shutout. Tonight's game will be his fourth career start against Bowie. He is 0-1 with a 3.78 ERA (7 ER/16.2 IP) against the Baysox.

Last season, Fitzgerald went 9-9 and posted a 3.51 ERA in a team-high 27 starts with Richmond. He also led the 2011 Flying Squirrels pitching staff in innings pitched (146.1), finished second on the club in wins (9) and walks allowed (55) and third in strikeouts (111). As a result, Fitzgerald was named an Eastern League Mid-Season All-Star. He also posted a 1-0 mark with a 2.70 ERA in two playoff starts and earned the win in the clinching game of Richmond's sweep of Harrisburg in the Western Division Championship Series. In 2010, he posted a 10-6 record with a 3.45 ERA in 26 appearances, including 25 starts, with Advanced-A San Jose and earned a spot on the California League Mid-Season All-Star team. Fitzgerald owns a 24-18 record with a 3.45 ERA in 116 career minor league appearances, including 59 starts. The Santa Rosa, Calif. native was selected by the Giants in the 11th round of the 2008 June Draft out of UC-Davis.

Bascom: Makes his eighth start of the season today. In his last start, Bascom allowed three hits and four earned runs along with three walks and three strikeouts in three innings pitched at Altoona Tuesday. He received a no-decision in Bowie's 7-4 triumph. The right-hander went 9-4 with a 3.11 ERA in 29 appearances, including 17 starts for the Baysox last year. As a result, he was selected as an Eastern League Mid-Season All-Star and won the Jim Palmer Award as Baltimore's Minor League Pitcher of the Year. Bascom finished third in the circuit in WHIP (1.13), fourth in ERA (3.11) and fi fth in opponents' average (.230). He has a 3-1 record in eight career appearances, including five starts, against the Flying Squirrels. Bascom boasts a career record of 37-36 with a 4.29 ERA and one save in 128 appearances, including 112 starts. He was selected by the Orioles in the fourth round of the 2007 June Draft out of the University of Central Florida.

HERE'S JOHNNY: Last night's game was the fourth multi-HR game in Johnny Monell's professional career. and his fi rst since he hit two home runs against the Erie Seawolves on May 25, 2011. Eleven of his 13 career Double-A home runs have been hit at The Diamond. Eight of his 11 home runs last season were hit at home and all three of his home runs in 2012 have come at The Diamond. It was the second multi-HR game for a Richmond batter this season and the first since Tommy Joseph hit two home runs off Bowie's Cole McCurry on April 30.

WINNING RECORD: Last night's win put the Flying Squirrels at the .500 mark (18-18) for the first time since April 30 when the club was 12-12. Today's game provides an opportunity for the Flying Squirrels to climb above .500 for the first time since April 15 when Richmond was 6-5, the only time the team has had a winning record this season.

SHUTOUTS: Richmond's 2-0 blanking of Bowie last night was the fourth combined shutout for the Flying Squirrels pitching staff this season. The Flying Squirrels are now tied with the Akron Aeros for the Eastern League lead in shutouts (4). Last season, the Flying Squirrels staff tossed nine shutouts.

ME GUSTA MAYORA: After going 1-for-3 last night, Daniel Mayora extended his current hit streak to eight games. He is hitting .370 (10-for-27) over the course of the streak with three doubles, three RBIs and four runs scored. Mayora has a team-leading 12 multi-hit games on the season and he owns the longest hit streak of any Flying Squirrel in 2012, a nine-game streak, which began April 14 and was snapped on April 25. In his fi rst season in the Giants organization, the veteran third baseman is hitting .309 with 15 RBIs.

Check out the Richmond Flying Squirrels Statistics

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Eastern League Stories from May 13, 2012


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