EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Flying Squirrels Game Notes vs. Harrisburg

Published on August 7, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


Richmond Flying Squirrels (57-58) vs. Harrisburg Senators (55-60)

Tuesday, August 7th -- 7:05 PM

The Diamond -- Richmond, VA

Game # 116 - Home Game # 55

Radio: Sports Radio 910 AM (6:35 PM) Internet: sportsradio910.com

RHP Chris Heston (7-5, 2.39) vs. RHP Chien-Ming Wang (1-2, 3.52)

SERIES AT A GLANCE: The Flying Squirrels will seek their second straight win when they take on the Harrisburg Senators in the opener of a three-game series at The Diamond tonight. On Sunday afternoon, Nick Liles went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, Juan Perez added two hits and the Flying Squirrels scored four runs in the top of the fifth on the strength of two hits, two walks and two errors to lift in a 6-3 rain-shortened victory over Harrisburg at Metro Bank Park. Following a 47-minute rain delay, the game was called after five and a half innings of play. Craig Westcott (10-8) allowed nine hits and three runs, only two of which were earned, in five innings and the right-hander became the first Richmond pitcher to win 10 games in 2012. The victory enabled Richmond to avoid a sweep in the three-game series. The Flying Squirrels went 13-8 against Harrisburg in 2011. Richmond is 24-20 all-time against the Senators and the club is 11-10 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 in early May (5/7-5/9). Harrisburg won two out of three games against the Flying Squirrels at The Diamond in mid-May (5/15-17).

Richmond won four out of five games when the two clubs met in Harrisburg in mid-July (7/12-15). Harrisburg won two out of three games from Richmond at Metro Bank Park last weekend. Following this three-game series, the two teams will meet again at The Diamond for a four-game series August 27-30.

TODAY'S PITCHERS: RHP Chris Heston vs. RHP Chien-Ming Wang Heston: Makes his twentieth start of the season for the Flying Squirrels tonight. In his last start, Heston allowed four hits and two earned runs, along with two walks and four strikeouts in 4.2 innings pitched against Reading August 1. It was his first start back from a15-day stint on the Disabled List due to a blister and he took the loss in Richmond's 7-4 setback. Tonight's game will be Heston's second career start against Harrisburg. He is 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA (0 ER/8.0 IP) against the Senators. Heston currently leads the Eastern League in earned run average (2.39) and he ranks third in the circuit in WHIP (1.13). 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 25-27 record with a 3.24 ERA in 80 career minor league appearances, including 75 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.

Wang: Makes his eleventh start of the season and his fifth for the Senators tonight. Wang opened the season with Advanced-A Potomac, where he went 0-0 with a 2.25 ERA. He also made one start for Low-A Hagerstown and went 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA and three starts for Triple-A Syracuse, where he compiled a 2-0 mark with a 4.35 ERA. Additionally, Wang has made seven appearances, including four starts, in the Major Leagues with Washington and he is 2-3 with a 7.61 ERA. In his last start, Wang allowed seven hits and three earned runs along with a walk and two strikeouts in 6.2 innings pitched at Binghamton Thursday. He received a no-decision in Harrisburg's 4-3 setback. Tonight's game will be Wang's second career start against Richmond. He is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA against the Flying Squirrels. Wang boasts a career record of 37-22 with a 3.38 ERA in 98 minor league appearances, including 97 starts. He is also 61-32 with one save and a 4.26 ERA in 127 Major League appearances, including 119 starts. After beginning his career with the Yankees, Wang signed as a free agent with Washington on February 16, 2010.

HOW THE WEST WAS WON: Te Flying Squirrels are in the midst of a stretch of games that will determine playoff positioning in the Western Division. 24 of Richmond's final 31 games will feature Western Division rivals. Richmond enters play tonight in third place in the Western Division, two and a half games behind second-place Bowie in the race for the divisional wild-card spot in the Eastern league Play-offs. Richmond and Bowie will meet six times in the final month of games. Richmond owns a 34-32 record against Western Division foes this season. Conversely, the Flying Squirrels are 23-26 against Eastern Division clubs in 2012.

THE REAL DON JUAN: Flying Squirrels outfielder Juan Perez went 2-for-3 with a run scored Sunday to extend his current hit streak to 11 games. Perez is the second Richmond batter to record a hit streak of 10 or more games this season; Gary Brown has recorded two 12-game hit streaks this season. In his last ten games, Perez has compiled a .375 batting average (14-for-40) with three home runs, eight RBIs and seven runs scored. Additionally, Perez continues to thrive against Harrisburg. In seven games against the Senators this season, Perez is batting .517 (15-for-29) with one home run, two doubles, two triples and six RBIs. Perez boasts a .398 (37-for-93) career average against Harrisburg with two home runs, six doubles, four triples and 17 RBIs in 27 games.

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Eastern League Stories from August 7, 2012


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