EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Richmond Flying Squirrels Game Notes May 1

Published on May 1, 2010 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


TONIGHT: The Richmond Flying Squirrels and Bowie Baysox will meet in game two of a three-game series...The Flying Squirrels took the opener of the series over the Baysox 2-0 as Mike MacDonald and two relievers combined on a three-hit shutout.

TONIGHT'S STARTER: Left-hander Clayton Tanner gets the start in game two of the series for the Flying Squirrels...Dropped his second straight decision with a loss in his last start 4/25 at Reading...Gave up one unearned run on five hits in just four innings...Struck out two and walked four...Start was his shortest of the season and shortest since lasting just three innings on May 18, 2009, at Modesto...Lone run allowed came on a Mike Spidale RBI infield single with two outs in the bottom of the first inning...Allowed the leadoff man to reach in three of his five innings on the mound...Had at least one base runner reach against him in all five innings...All five hits allowed were singles including two infield base hits...Threw 83 pitches, 45 strikes...Fewest pitches thrown in his four full innings was 17...Four walks were the most by a Flying Squirrels' pitcher...Recorded six fly outs, three ground outs, two strikeouts...Club was held to just one hit and was shutout 2-0.

Right-hander Chorye Spoone gets the nod in game two of the series for the Baysox...Took the loss for the second straight start 4/25 against Akron...Allowed seven runs, six earned, on 10 hits in 4 1/3 innings...Walked six batters and struck out two...Has walked 16 batters and struck out just six in 19 innings...Tied for the most walks allowed in the Eastern League...Made his 2010 debut against Richmond on April 10...Allowed two runs on six hits in four innings...Stuck out two and walked two, but did not factor into the decision...Made 10 starts in 2009 at three different levels (Rookie, SS-A, Adv-A) coming back from shoulder surgery in 2008...Selected in the 8th round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft...Attended Catonsville Community College (MD).

SOARING IN THE STANDINGS: The Flying Squirrels are 11-3 in their last 14 games after starting the season 1-6...No other team in the Eastern League has won as many games over that span...Richmond has trimmed its deficit in the Eastern League Western Division in half going from five games back on April 18th to 2 1/2 entering play today.

RISING WATER: The Flying Squirrels have reached their high water mark for the season at 12-9, three games over .500...Richmond was above .500 just once through the first 18 games (8-7).

WINNING WAYS: The Flying Squirrels are currently in the midst of a four-game winning streak...With a win tonight against Bowie, the club would set its longest winning streak of the season...Richmond previously won four straight games 4/19-4/23...The Flying Squirrels have outscored the Rock Cats and Baysox 12-4 over the last four games and have outhit New Britain and Bowie 30-14...The team is 10-2 when it outhits its opponent and is 0-5 when being outhit...The Flying Squirrels finished the month of April with a 12-9 record.

PITCHING IN: The Flying Squirrels have the lowest staff ERA in the Eastern League at 2.39 entering Saturday's games...Richmond has allowed the fewest runs in the league with 51...Richmond is the only club to have not allowed more than six runs in a game this season...The pitching staff is also leads the league with four shutouts...Since Opening Day at Bowie, Richmond has not allowed more than five runs in a game.

ERROR REPORT: Richmond has not committed an error in four straight games, the club's longest errorless streak of the season...The Flying Squirrels enter today with the top fielding percentage in the Eastern League (.989)...The team is tied with Trenton and Portland for the fewest errors committed with nine.

HORSESHOES AND HAND GRENADES: All 21 games for the Flying Squirrels this season have been decided by three runs or less..A save has been recorded for the victorious team in 18 of the 21...The average margin of victory/defeat is 2.0 runs (42R/21G).

DOUBLETREE DOWNTOWN DOUBLE PLAYS: The Richmond Flying Squirrels have turned 26 double plays in their first 21 games...The club leads the Eastern League in double plays turned.

CFS STAT OF THE NIGHT: Mike MacDonald matched a career-high with eight strike outs as the right-hander earned his first win of the season in last night's 2-0 shutout of Bowie...The 28-year-old last struck out eight batters on August 18, 2007 at Pawtucket while pitching for Triple-A Syracuse in the Toronto Blue Jays organization...The eight strike outs were also the most for a Flying Squirrels' pitcher this season.

DIRTY SQUIRREL OF THE GAME: Thomas Neal was named the Puritan Cleaners Dirty Squirrel of the Game last night after going 1-for-3 and being hit by a pitch...It was the second Dirty Squirrel award for Neal on the season.

WHAT WES WANTS: Tonight's press box spread is provided courtesy of Penn Station East Coast Subs.

Check out the Richmond Flying Squirrels Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Eastern League Stories from May 1, 2010


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central