Flying Squirrels Game Notes vs. Harrisburg
Published on August 29, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release
Richmond Flying Squirrels (68-68) vs. Harrisburg Senators (62-73)
Wednesday, August 29th -- 7:05 PM
The Diamond -- Richmond, VA
Game # 137 - Home Game # 66
Radio: Sports Radio 910 AM (6:35 PM) Internet: sportsradio910.com
LHP Mike Kickham (11-10, 2.91) vs. RHP Ryan Perry (2-4, 2.82)
SERIES AT A GLANCE: The Flying Squirrels will attempt to bounce back with a win when they take on the Harrisburg Senators in the third game of a four-game set at The Diamond tonight. Last night, Chris Heston's second wild pitch of the inning allowed Jose Lozada to sprint home with the game-winning run in the top of the eighth as the Senators defeated the Flying Squirrels, 2-1.
Richmond's loss coupled with the Bowie Baysox' win over the Erie SeaWolves leaves the Flying Squirrels 6 and 1/2 games in back in the wild card race. Bowie must lose all seven of its remaining games for Richmond to have a chance at earning a postseason berth.
Richmond is 28-21 all-time against the Senators and the club is 15-11 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 in early August (8/3-8/5). The Flying Squirrels swept a three-game set from Harrisburg at The Diamond (8/7-8/9).
TODAY'S PITCHERS: LHP Mike Kickham vs. RHP Ryan Perry Kickham: Makes his twenty-seventh start of the season for the Flying Squirrels tonight In his last start, Kickham did not allow a hit and he issued five walks walk and recorded seven strikeouts in six scoreless innings pitched at Altoona Friday. Kickham earned his eleventh win in Richmond's 2-1 triumph. Tonight's game will be Kickham's third career start against Harrisburg. He is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA against the Senators. Kickham is currently second in the Eastern League in opponents' batting average (.215) and he is tied for second in the circuit in strikeouts (132). He is also third in the league in walks (73) and ranks fourth in earned run average (2.91). Last season, Kickham went 5-10 and posted a 4.11 ERA in 21 starts with Low-A Augusta. He entered the 2012 season ranked as the #20 prospect in the Giants farm system. As a professional, Kickham owns an 16-20 record with a 3.51 ERA in 50 career minor league appearances, including 47 starts. Kickham enjoyed a successful, albeit brief, career at Missouri State University, where he finished fifth in school history in single-season strikeouts (106) and won the team's Dave Dickensheet Pitcher-of-the-Year award in his lone season with the Bears. The St. Louis, MO native was selected by the Giants in the sixth round of the 2010 June Draft as a draft-eligible sophomore. He signed with San Francisco for a $410,000 bonus.
Perry: Makes his twenty-four appearance and his thirteenth start of the season tonight. Perry opened the season with Triple-A Syracuse, where he went 1-1 with two saves in four chances and a 4.50 ERA in 11 appearances. Perry also went 1-0 with a 10.13 ERA in seven appearances with the Washington Nationals. Since being transferred to Harrisburg, Perry has compiled a 2-2 mark with a 2.82 ERA in twelve starts. In his last start, Perry allowed ten hits and eight earned runs along with one walk and three strikeouts in four innings pitched at Bowie Thursday. He took the loss in Harrisburg's 17-2 setback. Tonight's game will be Perry's third career start against Richmond. He is 0-0 with a 0.75 ERA (1 ER/12.0 IP) against the Flying Squirrels. The right-hander split the 2011 campaign between the Detroit Tigers and the Toledo Mud Hens, Detroit's Triple-A affiliate. In 36 appearances with the Tigers, he went 2-0 with a 5.35 ERA. In 20 appearances with Toledo, Perry went 3-0 with seven saves and a 3.03 ERA. In parts of four seasons, Perry owns a career record of 6-6 with two saves and a 4.36 ERA in 156 Major League appearances. Perry boasts a career minor league record of 8-7 with 16 saves and a 2.96 ERA in 68 appearances, including twelve starts. He was selected by Detroit in the fi rst round of the 2008 June Draft out of the University of Arizona. He was acquired by Washington in a trade that sent RHP Collin Balester to Detroit on December 9, 2011.
UNTIMELY HITTING: The Flying Squirrels offense struggled to put together a big inning in last night's 2-1 loss. Richmond hitters went 1-for-12 (.083) with runners in scoring position and stranded nine base runners. Mark Minicozzi's RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the first inning was the only scoring opportunity converted by Richmond. The Flying Squirrels loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the sixth, but Senators reliever Pat McCoy was able to strike out consecutive batters to end Richmond's chance at breaking a 1-1 tie.
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD: Mark Minicozzi continues to produce in the middle of the Flying Squirrels lineup, especially in clutch situations. Minicozzi is batting .267 (12-for-45) with runners in scoring position and two outs. He has delivered one home run, seven doubles and 15 RBIs in these situations. 34 percent (15 of 44) of his total RBIs have come with runners in scoring position and two outs.
WILD NIGHT: Last night, Heston became the second Squirrel starter to toss three wild pitches in a game (Justin Fitzgerald, 8/25).
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