Richmond Flying Squirrels | 3001 N Arthur Ashe Blvd., Richmond, VA 23230 | 804-359-3866 | SquirrelsBaseball.com | @GoSquirrels Erie SeaWolves (72-51, 41-16) vs. Richmond Flying Squirrels (46-78, 23-34) RHP Anthony Castro (5-2, 4.34) vs. RHP Ryan Halstead (2-5, 3.51) Monday, August 19, 2019 | Game #125 | Home Game #63 6:35 p.m. | The Diamond | Richmond, Va. Radio: Sports Radio 910 The Fan & 105.1 FM | TV: MiLB.TV UPCOMING GAMES & PROBABLE PITCHERS Tues., Aug. 20 Erie 6:35 p.m. RHP Matt Manning (11-4, 2.47) vs. RHP Brandon Lawson (5-8, 3.63) Wed., Aug. 21 Erie 6:35 p.m. RHP Logan Shore (4-7, 3.33) vs. RHP Sean Hjelle (0-2, 8.38) Thurs., Aug. 22 at Akron 7:05 p.m. RHP Kyle Dowdy (0-0, 2.92) vs. LHP Caleb Baragar (3-5, 3.45) Fri., Aug. 22 at Akron 7:05 p.m. LHP Adam Scott (4-4, 3.63) vs. RHP Alfred Gutierrez (8-5, 4.07) YESTERDAY: The Flying Squirrels capped a two-game sweep over the Harrisburg Senators with a 7-1 win. It was the first series win for the Flying Squirrels since April 4-7 against Hartford in the first series of the season. Harrisburg scored its only run in the 2019 FLYING SQUIRRELS top of the first inning on an RBI double by Luis Garcia, which he hit on the third pitch of the game. In the bottom of the first,Joey Overall Record ..............................46-78 Bart tied the score with a sac fly.Jalen Miller hit an RBI single and Ryan Howard drove in two runs with a double to open a 4-1 First Half ..........................................23-44 lead. In the third inning, Zach Houchins hit a three-run homer, his ninth of the season. Alfred Gutierrez tied his season high with 6.0 innings of work and picked up 10 strikeouts, tied for the most by a Richmond pitcher this season. Second Half ................................... 23-35 Home .................................................18-44 TODAY’S GAME: The Flying Squirrels play the first of a three-game series against the Erie SeaWolves, Double-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. It is also the third of a five-game homestand against Harrisburg (2-0) and Erie. Including today, the Flying Road .................................................28-34 Squirrels have seven home games remaining in 2019. The Flying Squirrels dropped two of three in Erie from May 13-15 and lost Place (E.L. Western) ............... 5th/-18.0 three of four at home from July 18-21. The two teams meet again for a four-game series in Erie next Monday through Thursday. Richmond’s current three-game home winning streak is tied for the longest of the season. Streak ................................................... W2 Last 5 .................................................... 2-3 THE FLYING SQUIRRELS have won back-to-back games after dropping 10 of the previous 13 from August 5-15. Richmond sits Last 10 .................................................. 4-6 fifth in the Western Division and is eliminated from postseason contention. Overall this season, the Richmond offense ranks last in the league with a .217 batting average, including a .204 average in August. The pitching staff has combined for a 3.63 team ERA, which is sixth in the circuit. Richmond’s -143 run differential is last in the league (next closest is Portland at -31). The HOME ATTENDANCE INFO previous franchise-worst is -80 in 2017. 2019 Home Attendance ..............343,784 THE SEAWOLVES have won seven of their last nine games since August 9. They have the best overall record in the Eastern Home Openings ..................................57 League this season and has clinched a winning record for the first time since 2013, the franchise’s last year in the E.L. postsea- son. Erie has the second-best ERA (3.26) in the Eastern League this season and the is ranked first in batting average (.252). Average Attendance ....................6,031 Erie’s roster includes 10 of MLB.com’s Top-30 Tigers prospects, including Casey Mize (1), Matt Manning (2), Tarik Skubal (4), Isaac Paredes (5), Alex Faedo (9 - on IL), Joey Wentz (10), Sergio Alcantara (15 - on IL), Anthony Castro (20), Derek Hill (28) and Alex Lange (29). RICHMOND vs. ERIE 2019 vs. Erie ....................................... 2-5 FOR RICHMOND: Right-hander Ryan Halstead makes his fourth start of the season and 31st overall appearance for the Flying Squirrels. In his three previous starts this season, Halstead has gone 0-1 with a 1.50 ERA (2 ER/12.0 IP). He started the second at Richmond ....................................1-3 game of a double-header last Tuesday in Bowie and allowed one run over 4.0 innings in a loss. Tonight’s start marks his first at Erie ................................................ 1-2 appearance against the SeaWolves this season. Over his last 21 appearances since May 21, Halstead has gone 1-2 with a 0.96 All-Time vs. Erie ............................54-44 ERA (4 ER/37.1 IP), including one outing with Triple-A Sacramento. Halstead is in his third season with the Flying Squirrels and has gone 8-9 with a 3.36 ERA in 88 total outings. at Richmond .............................. 29-15 at Erie .......................................... 25-29 FOR ERIE: Right-hander Anthony Castro makes his 16th start and 25th overall appearance for the SeaWolves this season. Last time out, he worked 5.0 innings and allowed four runs (three earned) over 5.0 innings in a no-decision against Reading on Wednesday. Castro has made two starts against Richmond this season, going 0-0 with a 7.36 ERA (6 ER/7.1 IP). He went 4-1 with ON THE HOMESTAND a 2.61 (12 ER/41.1 IP) over eight starts from June 16-August 1, but has an 11.81 ERA (7 ER/5.1 IP) in his last two games. Games ...................................................... 2 KEEPING IT CLOSE: Since July 25, 19 of the Flying Squirrels’ 24 games have been decided by two runs or less. In that span, the Record .................................................. 2-0 Flying Squirrels have played nine one-run games (4-5) and 10 two-run games (5-5). The games have also mostly been low-scor- ing. 20 of the last 24 games have had eight-or-less total runs, and 10 have had four-or-less total runs. Batters PITCHERS’ DELIGHT: The 2019 season has been the “Year of the Pitcher” in the Eastern League. There have been eight no-hit- Batting Average ................... .183 (11/60) ters thrown in the league this year, one shy of the record nine no-hitters in 1967. On the season, the league has combined for RISP .......................................... .461 (5/18) a 3.57 ERA, the second-lowest in all of minor league baseball’s full-season leagues, down from last year’s mark of 4.01 and the lowest in the EL since 1990 (3.33). The league’s offenses have combined to hit .239, the lowest of all MiLB full-season leagues, Runs/Runs Per Game ....................8/4.0 which is down from .253 last season and the lowest in the EL since 1971 (.234). Richmond’s offense has been held to a .217 Home Runs .............................................. 1 batting average, which would be tied for the fifth-lowest since the EL became a Double-A circuit in 1963 (last - 1967 York White Roses). The last time a team had a lower batting average was 1968 (Binghamton Triplets - .210, Elmira Pioneers - .214). Pitchers STRONG ARMS: The Flying Squirrels have posted a 2.26 ERA in 18 games in the month of August, which is the best in the East- ern League (second-best in all of Double-A). Of those 18 games, the Flying Squirrels have held their opponent to four-or-less ERA ..............................0.47 (1 ER/19.0 IP) runs 15 times, including 12 of the last 13 games since August 6. Richmond starters have combined for a 2.40 ERA (24 ER/90 IP) Starter W/L ........................................... 1-0 this month. The Richmond bullpen has posted a 2.04 ERA (13 ER/57.1 IP). Starter ERA ................0.69 (1 ER/13.0 IP) A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS: On the season, the Flying Squirrels have won eight series, lost 25 and split five. Six of Reliever W/L ......................................... 1-0 their eight series wins have come on the road. The Flying Squirrels have lost five of the last six home sets but have won three Reliever ERA ............. 0.00 (0 ER/6.0 IP) of their last five road series. Saves/Opps ........................................ 0/0 TOP OF THE CLASS: The Flying Squirrels received top two prospects in the Giants’ system on August 9 with the additions of Joey Bart and Heliot Ramos. Bart is ranked first and Ramos is ranked second both MLB.com and Baseball America’s top-30 Giants prospects lists. Bart is the highest drafted player in Flying Squirrels history (2nd overall - 2018). Ramos is the third-highest THIS DATE IN HISTORY drafted player in franchise history (19th overall - 2017), trailing Tyler Beede (14th overall - 2014). All time, the Flying Squirrels In 2018, the Flying Squirrels beat roster has featured 22 players selected in the first round of the MLB Draft. Bart is also the highest ranked player onBaseball America’s Top 100 prospects list (No. 17) in Flying Squirrels franchise history. the Hartford Yard Goats, 4-3. Conner Menez picked up his sixth win of the YOUTH MOVEMENT: Outfielder Heliot Ramos became the youngest player in Flying Squirrels franchise history (19 years, year, striking out 11 batters over 6.0 336 days) with his debut on August 9.