EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Flying Squirrels Game Notes: vs. Portland Sea Dogs

Published on June 11, 2015 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


Richmond Flying Squirrels (SF) (30-26) vs. Portland Sea Dogs (BOS) (23-36)

Thursday, June 11th -- 6:35 PM

The Diamond -- Richmond, VA

Game #57 - Home Game #28

Radio: Fox Sports 910 (6:00 PM) Internet: FoxSportsRichmond.com

LHP Adalberto Mejia (0-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Mike Augliera (2-9, 4.63)

TONIGHT'S PRESS BOX FEED: After receiving tremendous response to the game story headline "LADI DADI, SQUIRRELS PARTY...CONTINUES" following Tuesday night's Richmond win, I felt the need to explain why that was used. In an exceptionally awkward moment in the press box during the game, myself and some of the younger members of our media team were attempting to explain the great Doug E. Fresh, who will appear at The Diamond on July 8th, to Squirrels' beat-writer Tim Pearrell. This naturally led us down a slippery-slope towards attempting to beatbox. Once this inevitably occurred, scarring Giants' Video Coordinator Jeremy Fagelman for life, there was really no turning back, hence the headline. With that, Bojangles will provide the press box feed tonight.

SERIES AT A GLANCE: The Squirrels grabbed hold of this series against the Sea Dogs with a 5-1 win in game two of this three-game series at The Diamond Wednesday night. Richmond took the first game 4-3 Tuesday, a day where Matt Cain (MLB) made a rehab start and tossed 3.2 innings, allowed 3 hits, 2 runs, and threw 55 pitches as part of the Richmond win. After the win Wednesday, the Squirrels have now taken 9 of their last 11 series. This is Portland's only trip of the year to Richmond, and today will represent the conclusion of the season-series between the two teams. In addition to the two wins at The Diamond, the Squirrels lead the season-series four games to one after also claiming a three-game set at Hadlock Field as part of their recently-completed trip. Four of the five games between the two clubs have been decided by one run and have finished with the same final score, 4-3. Portland has not had a starting pitcher complete 6 innings in each of the 5 meetings. Richmond holds a 23-12 all-time advantage in the matchup as the two teams have met six times annually since the Squirrels' inception in 2010. The Squirrels are 8-1 in June after matching a franchise-record (Below) with 19 wins (19-11) in May. Remarkably, they are 27-9 since starting the season 3-17 and dropping 15 consecutive ballgames. The Squirrels are currently on a six game winning streak, one victory shy of breaking the longest streak of the year. Richmond has also compiled a six game winning streak for the third time this year.

SAVING THE DAY: Squirrels closer Josh Osich is a busy man this month. The left-hander has appeared in six of Richmond's previous nine games. During this span, he's tossed 6 innings (one per outing), given up just 3 hits, 1 run, and 6 strikeouts. In his last two outings, he has not surrendered a baserunner, issuing three groundouts and three strikeouts. Osich also recorded his 15th save Tuesday night against Portland, which is good for the second most in the Eastern League.

AN HONOR FOR OROPESA: 1B Ricky Oropesa was named as the Eastern League Player of the Month for the month of May. The award was announced by the league office on Friday afternoon. Oropesa batted .343 (37-108) during the month, notching 8 2Bs, 6 HRs and 25 RBIs. During the course of the month, the USC-product raised his batting average from .135 at the end of April to .275 at the close of May. The award is the first monthly award for Oropesa in his third year in the Eastern League.

ABOVE THE FOLD: Richmond climbed to four games above .500 (30-26) Wednesday night for the first time this season. Last year, April 17 was the first time the team reached four games over .500 (9-5). The Squirrels are just one game back of Bowie for second place and four and a half back of first place Altoona in the Western Division of the Eastern League.

APRIL SHOWERS BROUGHT MAY WINS: After suffering through the worst month in franchise-history, and posting a dismal record of 3-14 in April, the Squirrels matched the most successful month the franchise has ever had in the very next month. Richmond finished 19-11. Their19 wins equaled the franchise-record for wins in a month, which has now been accomplished three times. Last year, the Squirrels went 19-10 in June and followed that up with an 18-11 July to pull away in the Western Division. In 2011, the Squirrels used a 19-12 month of July to pull back into the playoff race. In each of those seasons, the Squirrels advanced to the Eastern League Championship Series.

WHO'S THE NEW GUY, AND WHERE DID JACK GO?: The Squirrels had quite a roster makeover during their recent 10-game road trip. A week ago, LHP Jack Snodgrass finally received his first promotion to Triple-A Sacramento. Snodgrass left as the Squirrels all-time leader in wins (27). He was named Squirrels' Pitcher of the Year in each of the last two seasons. Snodgrass had a travel partner as RHP Chris Stratton also was promoted to Sacramento. Then on Wednesday of last week, the Giants promoted OF Ryan Lollis as well. RHP Tyler Mizenko was reinstated from the Disabled List on Tuesday and OF Engel Beltre joined the team from Extended Spring Training on Wednesday. LHP Adalberto Mejia was added to the roster last Thursday from Extended Spring Training, and RHP Tyler Beede was added from San Jose (A+) on Friday. To make room, RHP Joan Gregorio was placed on the Disabled List with Patella Tendonitis. The Squirrels made an additional roster move on their off day on Monday, placing INF Blake Miller on the Disabled List (Wrist). That opened a spot for 1B Angel Villalona to return from the Disabled List today (Bruised Thumb).

STRONG OPENING REMARKS: Richmond starting pitching was tremendous during the Squirrels' recent road trip, which was the longest in franchise history. Despite RHP Kyle Crick tossing just three innings on Saturday, Richmond starters threw 58.1 innings on the trip. They collectively allowed just 10 earned runs, while on three occasions a starting pitcher lasted at least seven innings. The starters compiled a record of 5-0 on the trip, while sporting an ERA of 1.54. Due to mid-trip promotions for LHP Jack Snodgrass and RHP Chris Stratton, the Squirrels used eight different starting pitchers on the trip. Only LHP Matt Lujan and RHP Kyle Crick started twice.

UPCOMING HOMESTAND PROMOTIONS: (6/11) Fireworks!/Tribute to Meat presented by Your Local Ford Dealers (6/12) Free Shirt Fridays & Happy Hour presented by Village Bank/Boy Scout Sleepover (6/13) Fireworks!/Swim Team Jersey Auction presented by Towne Bank/Rayvon Owen Appearance (6/14) Kids Club Shovel & Pail Giveaway presented by Coca-Cola.

PORTLAND STARTING PITCHER: RHP Mike Augliera (2-9, 4.63)

Augliera makes his second start of the season against the Squirrels, and 12th overall this year. He has taken a decision in each of his first 11 outings, nine of those decision defeats. The 25-year-old's last outing was rough as he went 5.2 innings, gave up 11 hits, and allowed 4 runs against Richmond. He is currently conceding an average of .331 to the Eastern League. Augliera was a 5th round selection of the Red Sox out of the SUNY-Binghamton in 2012. He is repeating the Double-A level after going 8-10 with an ERA of 4.56 in 25 appearances - 24 starts - in 2014. He made back-to-back starts agains the 2014 Squirrels on August 10th and 17th. He went 1-0 against Richmond, lasting six innings in each start. He allowed just one run combined on 10 hits, walked three and struck out 11.

Check out the Richmond Flying Squirrels Statistics

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Eastern League Stories from June 11, 2015


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