EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Flying Squirrels Game Notes vs. Portland

Published on June 15, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


Richmond Flying Squirrels (32-34) vs. Portland Sea Dogs (27-38)

Friday, June 15th -- 6:35 PM

The Diamond -- Richmond, VA

Game # 67 - Home Game # 32

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

RHP Justin Fitzgerald (3-5, 4.40) vs. LHP Drake Britton (1-0, 0.00)

SERIES AT A GLANCE: The Flying Squirrels will seek their fifth straight win when they take on the Portland Sea Dogs in the opener of a three-game series at The Diamond tonight. Last night, Nick Liles delivered an RBI single in the bottom of the 13th inning to give Richmond a 3-2 walk-off win over New Hampshire at The Diamond. Liles' game-winning hit capped a two-run inning, in which the Flying Squirrels erased a 2-1 deficit and won in dramatic fashion for the second consecutive night. Richmond starter Mike Kickham overcame some control issues in the early frames and turned in a quality start with just one earned run allowed in seven innings pitched. After Ryan Cavan blasted a solo home run to tie the ballgame at 1-1 in the bottom of the third, neither team scored again until the 13th inning. New Hampshire broke the tie when Edwin Quirarte uncorked a wild pitch and Brad McElroy raced home from third base. Richmond rallied for two runs on four hits in the bottom of the inning, culminating in Liles' game-winning hit. Quirarte (1-0) earned the win in relief for Richmond and Fernando Hernandez took the loss for the second straight night. The Flying Squirrels went 4-2 against Portland in 2011 including a 2-1 mark in Portland. Richmond is 9-4 all-time against the Sea Dogs. Richmond is 4-2 all-time in the River City. The two teams will meet six times in 2012, three times in Portland and three times in Richmond.

TODAY'S PITCHERS: RHP Justin Fitzgerald vs. LHP Drake Britton Fitzgerald: Makes his fourteenth start for the Flying Squirrels tonight. In his last start, Fitzgerald allowed two hits and three unearned runs along with three walks and three strikeouts in seven innings pitched at Portland Saturday. He took the loss in Richmond's 3-1 setback. Tonight's game will be Fitzgerald's third career start against the Sea Dogs. He is 0-2 with a 3.18 ERA against Portland. 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 25-22 record with a 3.67 ERA in 122 career minor league appearances, including 65 starts. The Santa Rosa, Calif. native was selected by the Giants in the 11th round of the 2008 June Draft out of UC-Davis.

Britton: Makes his thirteenth appearance and eleventh start of the season tonight. He began the season with Advanced-A Salem and went 3-5 with a 5.80 ERA in ten appearances, including eight starts. Following a promotion to Portland, Britton has posted a 1-0 mark with a 0.00 ERA in two starts with the Sea Dogs. In his last start, Britton allowed three hits and two walks along five strikeouts in 5.1 scoreless innings against Richmond Sunday. He received a no-decision in Portland's 4-3 setback. Tonight's game will be his second career starts against the Flying Squirrels. He is 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA against Richmond. He suffered through a difficult 2011 season, in which he went 1-13 with a 6.91 ERA in 26 starts with Salem. He has a career minor league record of 8-23 with a 4.80 ERA in 74 appearances, including 71 starts. He was selected by Boston in the 23rd round of the 2007 June Draft out of Tomball (TX) High School.

THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA: Richmond second baseman Ryan Cavan is enjoying a hot stretch at the plate. Cavan is batting .350 (7-for-20) with three doubles, two home runs, six RBIs and three runs scored in his last five games. He belted a solo home run in last night's 3-2 triumph over New Hampshire. It was his second home run in as many nights and his fifth of the season. Cavan has delivered a run-producing, extra-base hit in four consecutive games.

EXTRA, EXTRA: Last night's ballgame was Richmond's eighth extra-innings contest this season, which is tied for the second-most in the Eastern League this season behind New Hampshire, which has participated in nine extra-innings games. The Flying Squirrels improved to 6-2 on the season in extra-innings games with their 3-2 victory in 13 frames. Richmond's six wins are tied for the most in the circuit with Trenton, which boasts a 6-2 record in extra-innings games, and Akron, which is 6-1 in extra-innings contests.

ONE IS THE LONELIEST NUMBER: Richmond's 3-2 win last night was the 25th one-run contest in which the Flying Squirrels have participated in this season. The Flying Squirrels are now 15-10 (.600) in one-run ballgames in 2012. Richmond's 15 wins are the second-most in the Eastern League, trailing only Akron's 16 one-run victories.

Check out the Richmond Flying Squirrels Statistics

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