EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Flying Squirrels Game Notes vs. Reading

Published on August 1, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


Richmond Flying Squirrels (55-55) vs. Reading Phillies (57-51)

Wednesday, August 1st -- 7:05 PM

The Diamond -- Richmond, VA

Game # 111 - Home Game # 53

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

RHP Chris Heston (7-4, 2.30) vs. RHP Austin Hyatt (5-3, 4.70)

SERIES AT A GLANCE: The Flying Squirrels will try to end their two-game slide when they take on the Reading Phillies in game two of a three-game series at The Diamond tonight. Last night, Cody Asche went 4-for-5 with a double and an RBI and reliever Kyle Simon silenced Richmond's offense in the final three innings as the R-Phils defeated the Flying Squirrels 6-4. Richmond grabbed a 2-0 lead in the opening frame, but Reading answered with a pair of runs in the top of the second, thanks in part to two Richmond errors. From that point forward, the game turned into a see-saw battle. Squirrels starter Craig Westcott went 2-for-3 and drove in two of Richmond's four runs and Mark Minicozzi went 3-for-5 and scored a run. But Reading scored a total of three unanswered runs in the seventh and eighth innings (two in the seventh and one in the eighth) and Simon tossed three scoreless frames to earn his first save with Reading. R-Phils reliever Colby Shreve (2-1) earned the win and Westcott (9-8) was charged with the loss.

The Flying Squirrels went 5-5 against Reading in 2011 including a 2-1 mark at The Diamond. Richmond is 19-25 all-time against the R-Phils and the club is 10-7 all-time in the River City. The two teams will meet 16 times in 2012, 7 times in Reading and 9 times in Richmond. The R-Phils claimed the opening series by winning two out of three games between the clubs at The Diamond in mid- April (4/16-4/18). Reading also took two out of three from Richmond at FirstEnergy Stadium (4/24-4/26) and three out of four in Reading (6/26-6/29). Richmond swept a three-game series between the two clubs just before the 2012 All-Star break (7/7-7/9). This season series between the two teams will conclude at the end of this three-game set.

TODAY'S PITCHERS: RHP Chris Heston vs. RHP Austin Hyatt Heston: Makes his nineteenth start of the season for the Flying Squirrels tonight. In his last start, Heston allowed eight hits and two earned runs along with two walks and four strikeouts in 5.1 innings pitched against Altoona July 16. He earned his seventh win of the season in Richmond's 5-3 triumph. He exited the contest when a blister formed on his right hand, which led to a two-week stint on the Disabled List and he missed two starts. Tonight's game will be Heston's third career start against Reading. He is 1-1 with a 0.69 ERA against the R-Phils. He currently leads the Eastern League in earned run average (2.30) and he is tied for second in the circuit in WHIP (1.12). 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 25-26 record with a 3.23 ERA in 79 career minor league appearances, including 74 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.

Hyatt: Makes his twenty-second start of the season and his twelfth for the R-Phils tonight. Hyatt opened the season with Triple-A Lehigh Valley and he went 2-6 with a 5.47 ERA in ten starts with the IronPigs. Since being transferred to Reading, Hyatt has posted a 5-3 record with a 4.70 ERA in eleven starts. In his last start, Hyatt allowed five hits and three earned runs along with three walks and three strikeouts in 5.0 innings pitched against New Hampshire Friday. He earned his fifth win of the season in Reading's 10-9 triumph. Tonight's game will be Hyatt's fifth career start against Richmond. He is 2-1 with a 3.97 ERA against the Flying Squirrels.

Hyatt spent the entire 2011 season with Reading. He went 12-6 with a 3.85 ERA in 28 starts. Hyatt has a career record of 34-20 with six saves and a 3.64 ERA in 94 appearances, including 80 starts. He was originally chosen by the Braves in the 23rd round of the 2004 June Draft, but he did not sign. Hyatt was selected by the Phillies in the 15th round of the 2009 June Draft out of the University of Alabama.

HERE'S JOHNNY: Flying Squirrels catcher Johnny Monell has been swinging a hot bat of late. In last night's series opener, Monell went 1-for-4 and delivered an RBI single. In his last five games, Monell batted .417 (5-for-12) with two doubles, three RBIs and a run scored. In his last seven games, Monell is batting .318 (7-for-22). As a result of yesterday's trade that sent Tommy Joseph to the Philadelphia Phillies, Monell is in position to become the Flying Squirrels starting catcher, a role he occupied last season when he helped guide Richmond to the 2011 Eastern League playoffs.

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD: Since his arrival June 1, Mark Minicozzi has excelled at the plate for Richmond. After posting a 3-for-5 night in yesterday's series opener Minicozzi is now batting .300 (54-for-180) with six home runs and 29 RBIs in 52 games with Richmond. In his last nine games, Minicozzi has amassed a .323 batting average (10-for-31) with a home run and three RBIs. Additionally, the former East Carolina University star has played at first base, second base, third base and left field.

Check out the Richmond Flying Squirrels Statistics

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Eastern League Stories from August 1, 2012


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