EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Richmond Flying Squirrels Game Notes

Published on July 16, 2010 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


RICHMOND FLYING SQUIRRELS (42-49) VS. BOWIE BAYSOX (49-43)

RHP DAVID MIXON (9-5, 3.21) VS. RHP CHORYE SPOONE (6-5, 3.73)

July 16, 2010 -- 7:05 PM

The Diamond

Game #92/Home #46

Radio Broadcast -- Sports Radio 910 WRNL

Internet Webcast -- www.sportsradio910.com

TONIGHT: The Richmond Flying Squirrels and Bowie Baysox will meet in game two of a four-game series...The Flying Squirrels rallied from three runs down for a 6-5 lead entering the ninth inning; however, the Baysox scored three runs in the inning and held on to an 8-6 win in the opener of the four-game series on Thursday night at The Diamond.

TONIGHT'S STARTERS: Right-hander David Mixon gets the start in game two of the series for the Flying Squirrels...Suffered the loss in his last outing at Altoona 7/10...Gave up two runs on four hits in seven innings of work...Struck out five batters and walked none...Gave up two runs and three hits in the bottom of the first inning...Retired 19 of the final 20 batters he faced...Recorded nine ground outs and seven fly outs...Five strikeouts were the most since fanning six batters 6/3 against Harrisburg (six starts)...Matched a career-high with the seven innings of work...Has gone seven-plus innings in seven of his 18 outings...Has gone at least six innings in 12 of his 18 starts...Has allowed two runs or less in 14 of his 18 outings...Ranks third among starters in the Eastern League in fewest base walks per nine innings at 10.45 (127/109.1 IP) and is third overall in WHIP (1.10)...Is fourth in the Eastern League innings pitched (109.1) and is eighth in ERA (3.21)...Trying to become just the second pitcher in the Eastern League to 10 wins (Jared Hughes).

Right-hander Chorye Spoone gets the nod in game two of the series for the Baysox...Received a no-decision in his last start 7/9 against Trenton...Allowed three runs on seven hits in seven innings of work...Struck out a season-high eight batters and walked two...Has not lost since 5/16 against Erie...Is 4-0 over his last 10 starts with a 2.79 ERA...Has allowed 23 runs, 19 earned, on 47 hits in 61 1/3 innings over that stretch (.217 batting average against)...Has struck out 43 batters and has walked 33 in his last 10 starts...Was 2-5 with a 5.18 ERA through his first eight starts with a .327 batting average against...Is 2-1 with a 3.60 ERA (11R/8ER in 20 IP) in four starts against Richmond in 2010...Has allowed 21 hits while striking out 14 and walking nine...Leads the Eastern League with 58 walks...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).

BRINGING ON THE HEARTBREAK: Right-hander Rafael Cova blew his third save of the season last night, allowing a season-high three runs on one hit in 2/3 of an inning while walking two and striking out none...After beginning the season 15-for-16 in save opportunities, Cova is 0-for-2 in his last two attempts (7/4 & 7/15)...It was just the second loss for the Flying Squirrels when leading after eight innings as the club fell to 34-2...The club's only other loss when leading after eight innings took place 6/5 at Trenton...Bowie won for the first time when trailing after eight innings as the Baysox improved to 1-33 in that situation.

FULL HOUSE: Richmond announced its seventh sell-out crowd of the season last night...It was the 11th time this season that the Flying Squirrels have announced a crowd of over 9,000 at The Diamond...The club is 3-8 when playing in front of more than 9,000 fans at home and is now 2-5 when playing in front of a sold out crowd at The Diamond...Richmond is second in the Eastern League to Reading in both total and average attendance.

TAKING THE BELT-WAY: First baseman Brandon Belt has hits in each of his last nine games...Over the last nine contests, the 22-year-old is 16-for-36 (.444) with a double, a triple, five home runs, eight RBI, and eight runs scored...He is currently averaging a home run every 7.8 at-bats with the Flying Squirrels...In 87 games combined between Advanced-A San Jose and Double-A Richmond, Belt leads all of minor league baseball in batting average (.386) and on-base percentage (.489) and is third in slugging percentage (.659) and ranks fourth in hits (119).

THOMAS THE TRAIN: Outfielder Thomas Neal went 2-for-5 with two doubles and a run scored last night...The 22-year-old collected his team-leading 26th multi-hit game of the season...He also leads the team with 32 extra-base hits...Neal is seventh in the Eastern League in doubles (23) and is tied for seventh in the league in hits (97).

NOOOOOONAN: Second baseman Nick Noonan matched a season-high with three hits last night...It was the third three-hit game of the season for the 21-year-old...Since coming off of the Disabled List 7/4, he is 8-for-30 (.267) with a double, RBI, and four runs scored.

RAY OF SUNSHINE: Right-hander Ronnie Ray has tossed 10 consecutive scoreless innings spanning his last nine outings...Over that stretch, the 26-year-old has allowed four hits (4-for-33) while striking out 10 batters and walking three...It is the longest scoreless streak of the season for Ray.

ERROR OMISSION: The Flying Squirrels have gone five consecutive games without committing an error...It's the longest streak without an error for the club since going a season-long six straight games without an error 6/5-6/11...Richmond currently leads the Eastern League in fielding percentage (.983) and has committed the second-fewest errors (61).

DOUBLETREE DOWNTOWN DOUBLE PLAYS: The Richmond Flying Squirrels have turned 118 double plays in 91 games including six on 5/7 in Harrisburg...The club leads the Eastern League in double plays turned and has not gone more than two games without turning a double play.

CFS STAT OF THE NIGHT: After not walking a single batter through the first two games of the series at Altoona, Flying Squirrels pitchers have walked 12 batters over their last two games...Counting the suspended game on Monday, Richmond pitching has walked 15 batters in its last 21 1/3 innings of work.

Check out the Richmond Flying Squirrels Statistics

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Eastern League Stories from July 16, 2010


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