Marzilli catches and Sunday’s Lineup

Last Time Out:
Jared Ray struck out 11 batters in a strong six innings of work, while Kevin Dultz hit a two-run home run as the Missoula Osprey beat the Helena Brewers on Friday at Ogren Park Allegiance Field, 6-5, for their fifth straight win in front of 2,207 fans. Ray (2-4) allowed just three hits and a walk, and while he did hit a pair of batters, allowed just two earned runs to earn his first win in over a month. While Mike Blake struggled in his outing, Chris Capper came on to pick up his bullpen mate with 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. Justin Thompson struck out the side in the top of the ninth to earn his fifth save in eight chances. Marzilli and Tyler Bream each had two hits for Missoula, which finished with nine hits in the game. Ty Linton added a base hit for the Osprey.

Showcasing the Leather:
Evan Marzilli has made highlight-reel plays before, most recently during the 2012 College World Series while patrolling the outfield for South Carolina. But the catch he made on Saturday night may be up there with the best of them. With one out and a runner on at second base, Michael Turay hit a drive to right center field. Marzilli read it off the bat and, with his back turned to home plate, sprung forward, lunged and made a spectacular catch to rob Turay of a run-scoring extra-base hit. Marzilli nearly came up with a diving catch in the top of the second inning, but that fell in front of him for a single.

Notes from the Nest:
Jared Ray has fanned 18 batters in his last 12 innings of work … Marzilli, a left-handed hitter, is hitting .318 against right-handers, but is an amazing 15-for-24 (.625) against left-handed pitching … Marzilli is also hitting .524 (11-for-21) against the Brewers this season … The Osprey struck out 16 batters last night, four shy of the club record for Ks in a game … Chase Stevens has struck out 17.22 batters per nine innings, which leads the Pioneer League.

On the Mound Tonight:
Missoula will send right-hander Ross Gerdeman to make the start tonight as he looks to continue a stretch which has seen him lower his ERA by over a run and a half in his past four outings. Gerdeman (3-2, 4.11) has also posted wins in his last two starts, including a season-long seven inning outing against the Brewers earlier in the week. In those four starts, Gerdeman has posted a 2-0 record and a 2.28 ERA, allowing just six earned runs in 23 2/3 innings pitched. His lone appearance in relief came against the Brewers, and his current run began in his first start after the relief outing. As a starter, Gerdeman has gone 3-1 with a respectable 3.57 ERA.

The Brewers will counter tonight with right-hander Tyler Wagner, who has experience an up-and-down season to date. Wagner (0-2, 9.17) is 0-2 with a 14.21 ERA in three starts against the Osprey this season – and that includes a scoreless inning pitched in a start at Kindrick Legion Field. The damage has come in two starts in Missoula, where both of his losses were registered, allowing 10 earned runs (12 total) in just 5 1/3 innings pitched.

Pitching Probables
Monday, August 6
MIS RHP Chris Pack (4-1, 4.73) vs. HEL RHP Preston Gainey (0-0, 3.38)

Tuesday, August 7
MIS RHP Karl Triana (3-3, 4.14) at HEL Pitcher TBA

Wednesday, August 8
MIS RHP Yoimer Camacho (1-3, 3.77) at HEL Pitcher TBA

Thursday, August 9
MIS RHP Jared Ray (1-4, 4.20) at HEL RHP Leonard Lorenzo (2-3, 3.86)

Friday, August 10
MIS RHP Ross Gerdeman (3-2, 4.11) vs. BIL Pitcher TBA

String ‘em Together:
As of now, the only Osprey players to hold consecutive-game hit streaks longer than 10 games this season are Pedro Ruiz (11) and Evan Marzilli (10).

W5

4-2

.288

18-20

17-4

3^rd

6-1

6-2

4.13

7-6

1-15

1^st

13-15

7-6

5 games

4-0

2-3

6 games

0-0

4-1

11

16-8

11-11

384

11-5

2-2

8.48

16-1

11/23

TEAM: 55-51, 3^rd in NL West, 3 GB … 5.5 GB in wildcard