EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Richmond Flying Squirrels Game Notes

Published on April 8, 2010 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


RICHMOND FLYING SQUIRRELS (0-0) VS. BOWIE BAYSOX (0-0)

RHP MIKE MACDONALD (0-0, 0.00) VS. LHP ZACH BRITTON (0-0, 0.00)

April 8, 2010 -- 7:05 PM

Prince George's Stadium

Radio Broadcast -- Sports Radio 910 WRNL

Internet Webcast -- www.squirrelsbaseball.com

TONIGHT: The Richmond Flying Squirrels and Bowie Baysox meet in game one of a four-game series...The Flying Squirrels will be playing their inaugural game after relocating from Norwich, Conn., on September 22nd.

TONIGHT'S STARTERS: Right-hander Mike MacDonald gets the start in the first-ever game for the Flying Squirrels... Appeared in one 2010 ML Spring Training game with SFG...Gave up three hits over a scoreless inning, striking out one...Spent the entire 2009 season with Triple-A SLC...Went 8-13 with a 6.37 ERA in 30G/27GS...80K/60BB in 147.0 IP...Allowed 15HR...Signed as a minor league free agent with LAA after being released by TOR...Posted a 2.60 ERA (13ER in 50 IP) in 8 wins...Had a 10.40 ERA (72ER in 62.1 IP) in 13 losses...Spent first five pro seasons in TOR farm system including parts of three seasons with Double-A NHM...Earned EL mid season All-Star honors in 2006... Went 13-9 with a 3.94 ERA in 28GS the Fisher Cats in '06...Struck out a career-high 103 batters...Ranked 3rd in the EL in wins and IP (171.1 IP)...Named an EL mid-season All-Star (worked one scoreless inning)...Worked 2CG including a CG shutout 4/28 vs. CON... Originally selected by TOR in the 15th round of the First-Year Player Draft...Attended University of Maine.

Left-hander Zach Britton gets the Opening Day nod for the Baysox...Making Double-A debut tonight...Went 9-6 with a career-low 2.70 ERA for Adv-A FRE in 2009...Struck out 131 batters and walked 55 in 140 IP...Held right-handed batters to a .228 batting average against...Totaled 10 quality starts in 25 total...Named a Carolina League mid season All-Star...Went 12-7 with a 3.12 ERA in 27GS with Low-A DEL in 2008...Struck out 114 batters and walked 49 in 147.1 IP...Made 15 starts with SS-A ABR in 2007...Went 6-4 with a 3.68 ERA...Made pro debut with Rookie BLU in 2006...Went 0-4 with a 5.29 ERA in 11 starts...Selected by BAL in the 3rd round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft.

TAKING FLIGHT: Tonight marks the inaugural game in Richmond Flying Squirrels history...After hosting the Atlanta Braves Triple-A affiliate for 43 years, the city of Richmond, Va., went without baseball in 2009...The move of the Connecticut Defenders to Richmond was announced September 22, 2009...The nickname "Flying Squirrels" was chosen from over 15,000 entries in a name-the-team contest and was announced October 14, 2009...The Flying Squirrels' logos and word marks were unveiled on December 1, 2009...Over $2 million in renovations have gone into the Flying Squirrels home - The Diamond - including 3,300 new seats in the lower seating bowl, renovated concession stands and clubhouses, the construction of an indoor batting tunnel, a new video board, new concourse sound system, and signage...The Flying Squirrels celebrate their home opener on Thursday April 15th, as the club hosts the Reading Phillies.

GIANT YEAR: 14 members of Flying Squirrels Opening Day roster spent time with Adv-A San Jose in 2009...The group, managed by Andy Skeels, finished the regular season with a 93-47 record...The 93 wins were the second-most in all of MiLB...Seven members of the team (Craig Clark, Daryl Maday, David Mixon, Daniel Turpen, Nick Noonan, Skyler Stromsmoe, and Thomas Neal) spent time with Skeels in Low-A Augusta in 2008 where the team went 88-50 and won the SAL championship...The 181 wins are the most over the last two years for a manager in MiLB...The San Francisco Giants farm system had the highest winning percentage in MLB.

PROSPECTING THE SQUIRRELS: Eight members of the inaugural Flying Squirrels roster are ranked in the top-30 prospects in the San Francisco Giants farm system according to Baseball America...Group includes OF Thomas Neal (#4), OF Roger Kieschnick (#7), INF Brandon Crawford (#9), INF Nick Noonan (#11), OF Darren Ford (#13), INF Connor Gillaspie (#17), LHP Clayton Tanner (#23), and LHP Craig Clark (#26)...Noonan (#32 overall), Gillaspie (#37 overall), and C Jackson Williams (#43 overall) are all former 1st round draft choices.

BIG LEAGUE: 15 member of the Flying Squirrels 24-man roster spent time in big league camp with the San Francisco Giants (LHP Craig Clark, RHP Rafael Cova, RHP Mike MacDonald, RHP Tony Pena Jr., LHP Clayton Tanner, RHP Daniel Turpen, C Jackson Williams, SS Brandon Crawford, 3B Connor Gillaspie, 2B Nick Noonan, INF Sharlon Schoop, OF Darren Ford, OF Tyler Graham, OF Roger Kieschnick, & OF Thomas Neal)... Ford and Gillaspie are both members of the Giants 40-Man roster...Additionally, four members of the 24-man roster (Pena Jr., LHP Andy Sisco, Gillaspie, & OF Clay Timpner) have spent time in the Major Leagues prior to the 2010 season.

Check out the Richmond Flying Squirrels Statistics

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Eastern League Stories from April 8, 2010


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