EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Flying Squirrels Game Notes vs. Harrisburg

Published on May 17, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


Richmond Flying Squirrels (19-20) vs. Harrisburg Senators (22-16)

Thursday, May 17th -- 6:35 PM

The Diamond -- Richmond, VA

Game # 40 - Home Game # 21

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

RHP Chris Heston (3-2, 0.84) vs. LHP Danny Rosenbaum (5-0, 0.71)

SERIES AT A GLANCE: The Flying Squirrels will look to salvage a win and avoid a series sweep when they square off against the Harrisburg Senators in the finale of a three-game series at The Diamond tonight. Last night, Eury Perez went 4-for-5 with two doubles, two RBIs and two stolen bases and Senators starter Jeff Mandel (4-2) limited Richmond to three hits and one earned run in 7.2 innings pitched as Harrisburg defeated the Flying Squirrels 3-1 in game two of the series. Perez delivered an RBI double into center field that plated Chris McConnell with the game-winning run in the top of the fifth. Richmond's Jason Stevenson (1-5) turned in a quality start by going seven innings and allowing seven hits and two runs, only one of which was earned. But Mandel's ability to keep Richmond hitters at bay throughout the contest resulted in Stevenson taking his fifth loss of the season. Tonight's finale pits arguably the top pitchers in the Eastern League against each other. Harrisburg's Danny Rosenbaum is 5-0 and leads the circuit with a 0.71 ERA while Richmond's Chris Heston is 3-2 and has the second-best ERA in the league (0.84). The Flying Squirrels went 13-8 against Harrisburg in 2011 including a 10-5 mark in the River City. Richmond is 18-17 all-time against the Senators and the club is 10-10 all-time at The Diamond. The two teams will meet 20 times in 2012, 10 times in Harrisburg and 10 times in Richmond. The Flying Squirrels swept Harrisburg in an abbreviated two-game series at Metro Bank Park last week. Following this three-game series, the Flying Squirrels and Senators will meet again at Metro Bank Park for a five-game series, which includes a make-up game that will be part of a doubleheader, July 12-15.

TODAY'S PITCHERS: RHP Chris Heston vs. LHP Danny Rosenbaum Heston: Makes his eighth start of the season for the Flying Squirrels tonight. In his last start, Heston allowed five hits and one unearned run along with one walk and three strikeouts and matched his season-high with seven innings pitched against Bowie Friday.

He earned his third win of the season in Richmond's 6-1 triumph. Tonight's game will be his first career start against Harrisburg.

Heston currently ranks second in the Eastern League in ERA (0.84), WHIP (0.87) and opponents' batting average (.186). 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 20-24 record with a 3.28 ERA in 67 career minor league appearances, including 62 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 out of East Carolina University.

Rosenbaum: Makes his eighth start of the season tonight. In his last start, Rosenbaum allowed four hits and one walk with six strikeouts six scoreless innings at Akron Friday. He earned the win in Harrisburg's 8-1 triumph. He is now 5-0 with an Eastern League-leading 0.71 ERA. Additionally, Rosenbaum leads the circuit in WHIP (0.71), innings pitched (50.2), opponents' batting average (.180) and complete games (2). He also is t-2nd in wins (5). The southpaw split the 2011 season between Advanced-A Potomac and Harrisburg. He went 6-5 and finished second in the Carolina League with a 2.59 ERA in 20 appearances, including 19 starts, with Potomac before being promoted to Harrisburg, where he went 3-1 with a 2.29 ERA in six starts with the Senators. Tonight's start will be his first career appearance against the Flying Squirrels. In 2010, Rosenbaum split the season between Low-A Hagerstown and Potomac. In 18 starts with Hagerstown, he compiled a 2-5 mark with a 2.32 ERA. Rosenbaum went 3-2 with a 2.09 ERA in eight appearances, including seven starts, with Potomac. He has a career record of 23-14 with a 2.14 ERA in 70 appearances, including 65 starts. Mandel was selected by the Nationals in the 22nd round of the 2009 June Draft out of Xavier University.

HERE'S JOHNNY: Johnny Monell went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI in last night's game. Monell is now batting .313 (5-for- 16) with two home runs, two doubles, four RBIs and three runs scored on the current home stand against Bowie and Harrisburg.

Monell has hit safely in nine of his last 12 games and collected seven of his 12 RBIs during this stretch.

OFFENSIVE WOES: The Flying Squirrels have mustered just seven hits and three runs in the first two games of the series with Harrisburg, Richmond is 1-for-12 (.083) with runners in scoring position in the series. For the season Richmond is batting .248 (81-for-327) with six home runs and 104 RBIs with runners in scoring position. As a team, the Flying Squirrels are now batting .246 (309-for-1255), the second-lowest average in the Eastern League, ahead of New Britain (.237). Richmond has hit 16 home runs on the season, which ranks 10th in the Eastern League, ahead of Harrisburg (15) and Altoona (11).

Check out the Richmond Flying Squirrels Statistics

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Eastern League Stories from May 17, 2012


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