EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Flying Squirrels Game Notes vs. Trenton

Published on May 28, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


Richmond Flying Squirrels (24-26) vs. Trenton Thunder (25-22)

Monday, May 28th -- 6:35 PM

The Diamond -- Richmond, VA

Game # 51 - Home Game # 25

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

LHP Mike Kickham (3-4, 3.76) vs. RHP Mikey O'Brien (1-1, 3.65)

SERIES AT A GLANCE: The Flying Squirrels will aim for a series vcitory when they take on the Trenton Thunder in the finale of a four-game series at The Diamond tonight. On Sunday afternoon, Flying Squirrels starter Chris Heston (5-2) allowed six hits and one earned run along with four walks and he established a new career-high in strikeouts with 11 as Richmond defeated Trenton 5-2. The Flying Squirrels took advantage of three Trenton errors, two of which were committed by third baseman Jose Pirela, and scored four unearned runs off Thunder starter Vidal Nuno. Five Richmond batters posted multi-hit games, including Tommy Joseph, who went 2-for-3 and drove in two of the Flying Squirrels five runs. Richmond closer Brett Bochy worked a scoreless ninth inning to pick up his fifth save in seven chances. The Flying Squirrels went 10-5 against Trenton in 2011 including a 7-1 mark at The Diamond.

Richmond is 13-8 all-time against the Thunder and the club is 9-2 all-time against Trenton at The Diamond. The two teams will meet seven times in 2012, three games in Trenton and four games in Richmond. Following this four-game series, the two teams will meet at Trenton's Waterfront Park for a three-game series June 19 through June 21.

TODAY'S PITCHERS: LHP Mike Kickham vs. RHP Mikey O'Brien Kickham: Makes his tenth start of the season for the Flying Squirrels tonight. In his last start, Kickham allowed three hits and one earned run along with three walks and he struck out a season-high seven batters in five innings pitched at Bowie Wednesday. He earned his third win of the season in Richmond's 6-2 triumph. Kickham currently ranks fourth in the Eastern League in walks (26).

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 8-14 record with a 4.13 ERA in 33 career minor league appearances, including 30 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.

O'Brien: Makes his ninth start of the season and his third start for the Thunder tonight. In his last start, O'Brien allowed seven hits and four earned runs along with two walks and two strikeouts in a 5.1 innings pitched against Akron Wednesday. He took the loss in Trenton's 4-2 setback. He began the season with Advanced-A Tampa, where he went 4-1 with a 2.92 ERA in seven appearances, including six starts. The right-hander split the 2011 season between Low-A Charleston and Tampa. He posted a 3-4 record with a 3.24 ERA in 14 starts with the RiverDogs. Following a promotion to Tampa, O'Brien went 4-3 with a 3.04 ERA in 10 appearances, including eight starts. O'Brien spent the entire 2010 campaign with Staten Island, the Yankees' Short-Season Class A affiliate in the New York-Penn League, where he went 6-2 with a 2.08 ERA in 11 starts. Tonight's game will be his first career start against the Flying Squirrels. O'Brien boasts a career record of 21-15 with a 3.34 ERA in 61 appearances, including 51 starts. He was selected by the Yankees in the ninth round of the 2008 June Draft out of Hidden Valley High School in Roanoke, VA.

JOLTIN' JOSEPH: In his first series back from nearly two weeks on the disabled list, Tommy Joseph is hitting .556 (5-for-9) with a double, three RBIs and two runs scored. In yesterday's game, Joseph went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, a run scored and a strikeout. It was Joseph's ninth multi-hit game of the season. Joseph has hit safely in seven of his last eight games and he has four multi-hit games during this stretch.

THE GREAT GLOOR: Flying Squirrels reliever Chris Gloor continues to shine in May. The 25-year-old southpaw did not allow a run in a season-high 3.1 innings pitched Saturday night and struck out a season-high four batters. Gloor has now worked seven consecutive scoreless outings for the Flying Squirrels. He has allowed seven hits, two walks and recorded nine strikeouts in 13 innings of work in May.

DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE: The Flying Squirrels have turned three double plays through the first three games of the series (two twin-killings on Friday night and one Saturday night). Richmond is currently leading the Eastern League in double plays with 56 for the season. Bowie is second in the circuit with 51 double plays and Portland is third with 50 twin-killings. The Flying Squirrels matched a single-game franchise-record with five double plays against New Britain on April 28.

ROCK CHALK...: In his first season with Richmond, Brett Bochy has thrived in the Flying Squirrels bullpen. The former Kansas Jayhawk is 3-1 with five saves in seven chances and a 1.52 ERA in 17 appearances after skipping over High-A San Jose. Opposing batters are hitting .141 (11-for-78) against him.

He worked 18 scoreless innings, spanning his first 11 appearances, before allowing four earned runs on three hits against Bowie on May 10.

Check out the Richmond Flying Squirrels Statistics

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Eastern League Stories from May 28, 2012


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