Last Time Out:
The Missoula Osprey battled tooth-and-nail with the Great Falls Voyagers on Saturday at Ogren Park Allegiance Field, but in the end, a fifth-inning tally was what made the difference as the Voyagers edged the Osprey, 3-2, in front of 1,711 fans. Great Falls scored that fifth-inning run on a passed ball, snapping the 2-2 tie that Missoula had just knotted in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Osprey fell behind 2-0 in the first inning, as Yoandy Barroso and Abe Ruiz each had two-out RBI singles to plate runs for the Voyagers. It could have been more, but Pedro Ruiz, realizing that second base was not covered, dived in ahead of Abe Ruiz and tagged him out to end the inning. The Osprey tied the game in the bottom of the fourth. Socrates Brito singled, stole second and moved to third on a Breland Almadova single to start the inning. Tyler Bream then hit a chopper up the first-base line, which was fielded by Voyagers starting pitcher Chris Beck, who threw home trying to get Brito, whose slide to the back of home plate helped him beat the tag and score the run, pulling the Osprey within 2-1. Almadova would score on a double-play ball hit by John Leonard to tie the game. Brito and Almadova each had two hits to lead the Osprey at the plate, while Pedro Ruiz, Jake Lamb, Yosbel Gutierrez and Justin Bianco added base hits for Missoula. The Osprey were limited to eight hits on the night. Karl Triana (3-3) took the loss, scattering seven hits and a pair of walks in six innings of work, allowing three runs (two earned) while striking out three batters. Patrick Smith and Justin Thompson combined to pitch three shutout innings of relief.

A new half dawns:
The second half of the 2012 Pioneer Baseball League season begins tonight, with all four teams back to 0-0 in the win-loss column. Great Falls won the North by a comfortable margin, while the Ogden Raptors needed a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth and a run in the bottom of the 10^th for a walk-off win over Orem last night to tie Grand Junction with a 21-17 mark, and win the half on a tie-breaker.

On the Mound Tonight:
Missoula will send right-hander Yoimer Camacho to the hill as he looks to get back to the success he showed in the first half of the season against any team not named Orem. Camacho (0-3, 4.71) was 0-1 with a 2.13 ERA in his first three starts, but in his last two starts, both against Orem, Camacho was 0-2 with an 8.64 ERA. Camacho is also looking to improve on his numbers at home, where he is 0-1 with a 7.88 ERA.

The Voyagers will counter tonight with right-hander JC Casey, who is one of the best starting pitchers in the Pioneer League. Casey (4-2, 1.88) is ranked second in the league in ERA, behind only Sam Selman of Idaho Falls (1.67). Casey has had just one no-decision – and it came against the Osprey on July 5, a game which the Osprey scored five runs in the eighth to pull off a 5-2 win. Casey pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings, surrendering just three hits and three walks while striking out four batters. In two road starts, Casey has yet to allow a run in 11 innings of work.

Pitching Probables
Monday, July 30
MIS RHP Jared Ray (1-3, 3.89) vs. HEL RHP Leonard Lorenzo (1-3, 4.18)

Tuesday, July 31
MIS RHP Ross Gerdeman (2-2, 4.57) vs. HEL RHP Tyler Wagner (0-1, 8.56)

Wednesday, August 1
MIS RHP Chris Pack (3-1, 4.47) vs. GF RHP Andrew Virgili (1-1, 5.67)

Thursday, August 2
MIS RHP Karl Triana (3-3, 4.71) vs. GF Pitcher TBA

Friday, August 3
MIS RHP Yoimer Camacho (0-3, 4.71) vs. GF Pitcher TBA

Stat of the Day:

The Osprey are 11-1 when they collect 11 or more hits in a game this season. Their only loss came against Orem on July 17, a 12-8 setback at home.

L1

3-2

.281

18-20

12-4

4^th

0-0

5-2

4.44

7-6

1-14

2^nd

11-14

4-5

3 games

0-0

2-3

6 games

0-0

4-1

8

11-8

8-11

305

8-4

1-2

8.07

TEAM: 51-50, 3^rd in NL West, 4.5 GB … 5.5 GB in wildcard