EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Flying Squirrels Game Notes: vs. Portland

Published on June 9, 2015 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


Richmond Flying Squirrels (SF) (28-26) vs. Portland Sea Dogs (BOS) (23-34)

Tuesday, June 9th -- 6:35 PM

The Diamond -- Richmond, VA

Game #55 - Home Game #26

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

RHP Matt Cain (MLB) (0-0, ---) vs. RHP Justin Haley (1-7, 5.75)

TONIGHT'S PRESS BOX FEED: As is customary in baseball when a player is on a Major League rehab assignment, Matt Cain will be supplying the post-game spread for the team in the clubhouse. Which led me to wonder if anyone from our press corps had a big league background that would want to grill steaks for us before the game. Unfortunately, our very own burlesque right-hander Scott Day (Official Scorer) fell just a few rungs of Major League stardom following his standout pitching career at York College of Pennsylvania. Fortunately, our good friends Dave & Buster's have stepped up to the plate to fill the void, and will provide tonight's press box feed.

SERIES AT A GLANCE: The Squirrels come off their longest road trip of the season to open a six-game homestand, which begins on Tuesday with the opener of a three-game series against the Portland Sea Dogs (Boston Red Sox). Portland will be making their only trip of the year to Richmond, and the three games in the set will represent the conclusion of the season-series between the two teams. The Squirrels lead the season-series two games to one after claiming a three-game series at Hadlock Field as part of their recently-completed trip. The Squirrels will be facing the same three starting pitchers from that series. Richmond holds a 21-12 all-time advantage in the matchup as the two teams have met six times annually since the Squirrels' inception in 2010. The Squirrels are 6-1 in June after matching a franchise-record (Below) with 19 wins (19-11) in May. Remarkably, they are 25-9 since starting the season 3-17 and dropping 15 consecutive ballgames. RHP Matt Cain (Below) will make a MLB rehab start for Richmond in the opener against RHP Justin Haley (Bio Below) for Portland.

RICHMOND STARTING PITCHER: RHP Matt Cain (0-0, ---)

Cain, a three-time National League All-Star, will be making his first rehab appearance as he attempts to return from a flexor strain (forearm). He has not pitched in a big league game since July 9th, 2014. He made 15 starts for the Giants (2-7, 4.14) in 2014 before requiring season-ending surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow. Cain, 30, was originally a 1st round selection of the Giants out of Houston High School (Germantown, TN) in 2002. He made his MLB debut in 2005, and has gone on to make 281 Major League starts for San Francisco. He carries a lifetime 95-95 record and an ERA of 3.39. Additionally, he recorded four post-season wins during the Giants' 2010 and 2012 World Series title runs, and also was the winning pitcher in the 2012 MLB All-Star Game. On June 13, 2012, he tossed the first perfect game in Giants' franchise history against the Houston Astros at AT&T Park. He is the second Giants' right-hander to rehab with the Squirrels. Ryan Vogelsong was the first, making two rehab starts (7/30, 8/4) in 2013. Vogelsong won both outings, allowing a lone run in 11 innings. Interestingly, Vogelsong's first appearance was also against the Portland Sea Dogs. The Sea Dogs make just one trip to Richmond annually.

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.

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 today, 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, 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 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' current 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: (6/9) Kids Thermos Giveaway presented by Martin's (6/10) Middle Child Night (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 Justin Haley (1-7, 5.75)

Haley, 23, was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 6th round of the 2012 MLB draft out of Fresno State University. He signed for $125,000. He made a nice progression through the system, reaching Double-A for the first time last season. He earned the promotion by compiling a 7-4 record and 2.82 ERA in 19 appearances - 11 starts. at Advanced-A Salem. He also fared well in his six starts with the Sea Dogs, going 3-2 with a 1.19 ERA. For the season, he allowed just 107 hits in 130.1 innings. He is currently rated as the #28 prospect in the Red Sox chain, but has struggled this season. He is presently 1-7 with a 5.75 ERA through 10 starts. His latest outing (6/2) came against the Squirrels. Richmond tagged him with a loss as he allowed four runs - three earned - on four hits across 4 1/3 innings. He walked three and struck out five. He is currently conceding an average of .307 to the Eastern League.

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Eastern League Stories from June 9, 2015


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