EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Richmond Flying Squirrels Game Notes

Published on May 4, 2010 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


RICHMOND FLYING SQUIRRELS (15-9) VS. ALTOONA CURVE (16-7)

LHP CRAIG CLARK (1-1, 3.20) VS. LHP RUDY OWENS (2-0, 3.57)

May 4, 2010 -- 7:05 PM

The Diamond

Game #25/Home #12

Radio Broadcast -- Sports Radio 910 WRNL

Internet Webcast -- www.sportsradio910.com

TONIGHT: The Richmond Flying Squirrels and Altoona Curve will meet in game two of a four-game series...After giving up a three-run lead in the top of the sixth inning, the Flying Squirrels scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh en route to a 9-5 series-opening win over the Curve on Monday night at The Diamond.

TONIGHT'S STARTER: Left-hander Craig Clark gets the start in game two of the series for the Flying Squirrels...Received a second straight no-decision in his last out at New Britain on 4/28...Allowed two runs on just three hits in five innings of work...Struck out four and walked two...Both runs allowed came in the bottom of the 3rd inning on a one-out, two-run double off of the bat of Estarlin De Los Santos...Two of the three hits were doubles...Retired the leadoff batter in all five of his innings on the mound...Recorded 8 fly outs, four strike outs, and three ground outs...All four strike outs were swinging...Four strike outs matched a season-high...Opponent batting average of .203 is the sixth-lowest in the Eastern League...Has allowed 14 hits in 19 2/3 innings.

Left-hander Rudy Owens gets the nod in game two of the series for the Curve...Got the win for the second straight start in his last outing against Akron on 4/28...Has allowed just three runs on 10 hits in 12 innings of work in his last two starts....Has struck out 17 and walked just two in 22 2/3 innings of work this season...Dominated the Low-A South Atlantic League while with West Virginia in 2009...Went 10-1 with a 1.70 ERA in 19 starts...Opponents hit just .197 against him...Struck out 91 and walked 15 in 100 2/3 innings of work...Went 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA in six starts following a promotion to Advanced-A Lynchburg...Allowed 29 hits in 23 1/3 innings of work...Struck out 22 and walked two...Helped Lynchburg to Carolina League Championship...Enters the 2010 season rated as the #9 prospect in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization according to Baseball America...Originally selected by the Pirates in the 28th round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft...Attended Chandler-Gilbert (Ariz.) Community College.

OFFENSIVE COMMENTS: The Flying Squirrels set a season-high with nine runs scored last night...The 13 Richmond hits matched a season-high...The club has scored first in each of its last six games, all wins...Overall, the Flying Squirrels are 13-2 when scoring first.

SCORING CHANGE: Kris Watts was credited with a single and a RBI on a come-backer to the mound in the top of the second inning last night...The play was originally ruled an error on Richmond starter David Mixon...Mixon is now charged with two earned runs instead of just one...Also, the Flying Squirrels have still committed just 11 errors in 24 games and are tied with the Trenton Thunder for the fewest errors and highest fielding percentage (.988) in the Eastern League entering play today.

CLAY-MATION: Outfielder Clay Timpner has hits in each of his last five contests, his second hit streak of at least five games...Currently on the homestand, the 26-year-old is 9-for-13 (.692) with four doubles, seven RBI, and two runs scored...He has driven in at least one run in each of his last five games...Timpner is batting .444 (8-for-18) with runners in scoring position.

IN THE NICK OF TIME: Second baseman Nick Noonan has driven in a run in each of his last five games...The California-native had driven in just one run over his first 18 games...He is 7-for-18 (.389) over the last five games with a double, two home runs, five RBI and six runs scored...Of his 20 hits on the season, eight have gone for extra bases including six doubles which is tied for the team lead (Thomas Neal and Clay Timpner)...Noonan's inside-the-park home run against Altoona on Monday night was the first in franchise history.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU: Nick Noonan turns 21-years-old today...He is the youngest member of the Flying Squirrels roster.

SOARING IN THE STANDINGS: The Flying Squirrels are 14-3 in their last 17 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 from five games back on April 18th to 1 1/2 entering play today.

RISING WATER: The Flying Squirrels have reached their high water mark for the season at 15-9, six 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 season-long seven-game winning streak...The Flying Squirrels have outscored the Rock Cats and Baysox 31-14 (4.4/2.0) over the last seven games and have outhit New Britain and Bowie 59-41 (8.4/5.9).

PITCHING IN: The Flying Squirrels have the lowest staff ERA in the Eastern League at 2.43 entering today's games...Richmond has allowed the fewest runs in the league with 61...Altoona's 83 runs allowed are second-fewest...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.

DOUBLETREE DOWNTOWN DOUBLE PLAYS: The Richmond Flying Squirrels have turned 28 double plays in their first 24 games...The club leads the Eastern League in double plays turned.

CFS STAT OF THE NIGHT: Last night's 9-5 win over Altoona marked the first game Richmond has played in this season that has been decided by more than three runs...Each of the first 23 contests were decided by three runs or less...Even with last night's contest, the average margin of victory/defeat in the Flying Squirrels 24 games is 2.2 runs (52R/24G).

WHAT WES WANTS: At the request of Sport Radio 910 sport talk personality Wes McElroy, today's press box spread is provided courtesy of Comfort.

Check out the Richmond Flying Squirrels Statistics

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Eastern League Stories from May 4, 2010


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