Game Day Preview: Williams Ready To Even Series

What's Happening:
+ The Flying Squirrels continue their seven-game road trip with the middle game of a three-game series in Trenton, N.J. tonight. The Flying Squirrels dropped the opener on Tuesday by a final of 8-1. The drubbing occurred due to a seven-run fourth inning with all the runs scoring with two outs in the frame. The Squirrels have now dropped consecutive games and are currently 2-3 on the seven game swing. RHP Jordan Johnson failed to make it out of the fourth inning for just the third time in his 11 starts this year while former SF Giants prospect Johnathan Loaisiga earned the win for Trenton, tossing five innings. He struck out eight and allowed just one run, a solo homer to Dylan Davis in the second.

Game Day Info

Richmond Flying Squirrels (SFG) (28-26) 
vs.
Trenton Thunder (NYY) (34-22)   
   LHP Garrett Williams (1-4, 6.75) vs. RHP Trevor Stephan (0-1, 5.40)    
  Wednesday, June 6 | 7:00 p.m. Arm & Hammer Park, Trenton, NJ          
  Radio: Fox Sports 910 (6:30 p.m.) Internet: FoxSportsRichmond.com   

Upcoming Probables: 

 Thursday, June 7 @Trenton Thunder RHP Chase Johnson vs. LHP Ryan Bollinger 
Friday. June 8 vs. Harrisburg Senators RHP Cory Taylor vs. LHP Logan Darnell .
Saturday, June 9 vs. Harrisburg Senators RHP Shaun Anderson vs. RHP Jefry Rodriguez  
Scouting The Thunder
+Richmond continues their third series of the season against the Trenton Thunder and their second in New Jersey at Arm & Hammer Park. Richmond began the season in the Garden State and split the four-game series to begin the 2018 campaign. The Thunder and Squirrels also split a four-game series in Richmond on May11-13. The two teams in opposite divisions will play each other a total of 15 times this season. (currently 4-5). The Thunder have followed up their historic 92-win season in 2017 with a strong start in 2018. Entering tonight Trenton sits at 34-22, a half game up on New Hampshire in the Eastern Division. After limiting Richmond to one run on Tuesday, Trenton boasts a 2.83 ERA, second best in the Eastern League, however their team .234 batting average is tied for the lowest mark this season.
This Feels....Weird. 
+The Flying Squirrels played five consecutive games decided by one-run prior to a 8-1 defeat on Tuesday at Arm & Hammer Park. Richmond has not had many contests get out of control this season and in fact have lost just five games by five runs or more. The team's largest loss occurred on May 25 at Akron (14-6) followed by Tuesday's at Trenton. The seven runs allowed in an inning are the most in a single frame allowed this season. Richmond allowed six runs in the third inning in the blowout in Akron. 
  
Extra Inning Lingo
+Minor League Baseball's new rules for extra innings provides each team with a runner on second base to start the frame. The runner is the player who made the last out in the inning, albeit can be pinch run also. The runner on second was not really given a name or a term to refer to him so the Flying Squirrels have deemed that the "gifted runner" at second base. Richmond played a pair of extra inning games in the previous series against Reading, winning one and losing one. The Flying Squirrels are 2-2 in extra innings this season and none of the extra inning games have gone longer than 10 innings. Richmond won the first extra inning contest on April 8 in Trenton, but lost the second extra inning affair on May 2 against Altoona. Three of the four extra inning games have been on the road. 
Double Down
+Flying Squirrels shortstop Ryan Howard smacked a double in the first game of the series in Reading. Howard has 16 doubles on the year, placing him tied with Yonathan Daza for second in the league. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Corban Joseph lead the league with 18 doubles each. Brandon Bednar led the Squirrels last year with 24 doubles. Thomas Neal holds the Flying Squirrels single-season doubles record with 40. Javier Herrera (37, 2013) and Christian Arroyo (36, 2016) are next in line. Howard has hit safely in 12 of his last 15 games. 
The Other Dillon
+ Dillon McNamara earned his third save of the season on Sunday, mowing down the Reading Fightin Phils 1-2-3. McNamara has retired all nine batters he has faced in the Reading series and has allowed just one earned run in seven appearances this year. McNamara was acquired in a trade for cash from the Yankees and pitched out of the pen and in the rotation last year for Richmond down the stretch. His new home is the back of the bullpen as he touched 97 on the Reading radar gun Friday.. 
Mr. .400 
+Luigi Rodriguez returned to the lineup on Tuesday after a brief hiatus over the weekend. Luigi went 0-4 with a walk, lowering his batting average to below .400 for the rist time since May 13. Luigi still ranks second in the Eastern League and second in all of MILB in batting average. His .468 OBP is also second in all MILB, trailing Michael Reed (Gwinnett).
Today's Starter: Richmond's Garrett Williams
+ Williams makes his 11th start of the season and his second against the Trenton Thunder. The lefty has scuffled with his command this season, leading to shorter outings. Williams has lasted five or more innings in two of his first ten starts. He last appeared on Friday in Reading and went 3.2 IP in no-decision. He suffered the loss in his first start this year against Trenton and allowed just two runs but walked five over 3.1 innings. Williams was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the seventh round of the 2016 draft out of Oklahoma State.
Today's Starter: Trenton's Trevor Stephan
+ Stephan makes his tenth start of the season and his third at the Double-A level with Trenton. Stephan began the year with Tampa (A+) and put up a 3-1 record with a 1.98 ERA over seven starts. Stephan made his Double-A debut on May 22 at Akron and allowed six runs on nine hits over 4.1 IP. His next outing was much bette last Tuesday against Reading. In that outing he recived a no-decision despite not allowing a run over 5.1 innings. He struck out seven and walked two in the effort. Stehan was selected by the Yankees in the 3rd round of the 2017 draft out of Arkansas University.($800,000). Was a transfer from Hill (Texas) JC who turned down the Red Sox as an 18th-round pick in 2016. No. 18 prospect per Baseball America. 
Hoober Incorporated Down on the Farm Report: