Getting Up To Speed:
The final playoff spot in the Pioneer League North Division Playoffs may not be decided until the final series in Missoula. The Osprey picked a good time to go on a two-game win streak – just as the Billings Mustangs were swept by the suddenly red-hot Ogden Raptors, who are tied for first with the Orem Owlz in the Pioneer League South Division Second-Half Standings. The Osprey won their series at Idaho Falls, taking the final two games of the weekend set – a 6-4 win on Saturday and a 9-0 shutout win on Sunday. The difference is now just a game between the two North rivals – who play each other six times in the final eight games of the season. The Osprey are glad to be done with the South – they posted an 11-17 mark against the South Division teams this season.

Voyagers Finding Their Stride Again:
Great Falls started the half by losing its first nine games, but has bounced back by winning 10 of its last 18 games – including a 5-2 homestand against Orem and Grand Junction. One of their main cogs in the lineup in the first half, outfielder Kyle Robinson, is back after spending three weeks at Class A Kannapolis. Robinson was hitting .378 before his promotion, but only .261 in the 11 games since his return, with no home runs and seven RBI. However, having him back in the lineup has helped other players, like outfielder Yoandy Barroso (.309, 2 HR, 41 RBI) and catcher/first baseman Brent Tanner (.274, 4 HR, 38 RBI). The pitching has been solid, with a 4.19 ERA for the month.

On the Mound Tonight:
Missoula will send right-hander Chris Pack to the mound as he looks to get back to the winning side of the ledger. Pack (5-1, 5.83) has three straight no-decisions (the O’s won the two games he started in that span), but has won his last four decisions. His last (and only) loss came against Great Falls on July 4. The numbers have been climbing as the season progresses, with a 2-0 mark and an ERA of 9.00 in five August appearances (four starts). Between home and road, Pack has been consistent – Pack is 3-0 with a 5.82 ERA at home, 2-1 with a 5.85 ERA on the road. The non-drafted free-agent signee is looking to get back to the playoffs for the second straight summer – he helped Joliet reach the Frontier League playoffs in 2011.

The Voyagers will go with right-hander Chris Beck, who will be making his fifth start of the season tonight. Beck (3-2, 4.96) has been a little limited in innings pitched as a starter, having gone just five innings on one occasion this season, but is hoping to improve on that tonight. In his lone start against the Osprey on July 28, Beck went four solid innings, allowing two runs (one earned) while scattering five hits and a walk while striking out four batters. In three total appearances in 2012, Beck is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA, striking out nine batters in eight innings pitched. That prior start came in Missoula – Beck has struggled on the road this season (1-1, 6.62), while putting together a solid home ledger (2-1, 3.00). In five appearances in August (two starts), Beck is 1-1 with a 6.14 ERA. The Jefferson, Georgia native was picked in the 2^nd round of the 2012 MLB Draft by the Chicago White Sox out of Georgia Southern.

Pitching Probables
Wednesday, August 29
MIS RHP Karl Triana (4-4, 5.34) vs. GF RHP Brandon Brennan (3-1, 3.64)

Thursday, August 30
MIS RHP Yoimer Camacho (2-4, 4.91) at BIL RHP Drew Cisco (4-1, 4.05)

Friday, August 31
MIS RHP Chris Thomas (2-1, 4.35) at BIL RHP Sal Romano (5-5, 5.17)

Saturday, September 1
MIS RHP Ross Gerdeman (4-4, 4.77) at BIL RHP Jon Moscot (0-1, 2.57)

Sunday, September 2
MIS RHP Chris Pack (5-1, 5.83) vs. BIL LHP Joel Bender (2-4, 8.56)

Goose eggs aplenty:
The Osprey pitching staff has five shutouts this season, which is one shy of the club record of six, posted by the 2006 pitching staff.

W2

5-4

.290

18-20

21-7

3^rd

16-12

9-2

4.74

7-6

4-23

3^rd

13-15

10-10

5 games

14-11

4-5

6 games

0-0

7-1

21

21-10

13-16

580

15-9

5-4

8.75

22-5

16/34

TEAM: 64-65, 3^rd in NL West, 7.5 GB … 7.5 GB in wildcard

Last Time Out:
The Missoula Osprey dropped their fourth straight game on Friday at Ogren Park Allegiance Field, falling 11-9 to the Idaho Falls Chukars in front of 1,956 fans. However, the Osprey stay two games back of the Billings Mustangs in the Pioneer League’s North Division, as the Mustangs also lost on Friday. Unlike the series opener on Thursday, the Osprey led the game twice, holding 5-3 and 6-5 edges, but were victimized by another six-run inning, this one taking place in the top of the sixth that gave the Chukars the lead for good. The Osprey responded in the home half of the inning with a three-run rally, but could not dent the scoreboard the rest of the evening. Michael Perez had two hits, two runs scored and two RBIs for Missoula, who had 11 hits on the night. It’s the second straight game the Osprey have collected 11 or more hits but lost the game, after winning 18 of the first 19 times it took place this season. Jake Lamb and Socrates Brito added two hits and two runs scored, while Tyler Bream added two hits and a RBI. Danny Pulfer doubled and drove in a pair of runs for the Osprey. The pitching highlight came in the final 3 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball by Missoula relievers Patrick Smith and Justin Thompson, who combined to allow just two hits and a walk while striking out five batters.

Notes from the Nest:
Including tonight’s game, the Osprey have just six home games remaining on the schedule. However, they are still on pace to set a new single-season attendance mark. The old record of 87,345 was set in the 2010 season. If the Osprey draw the average per game for the rest of the season, they would set the new mark on the last game of the season Sept. 6 … The Osprey are trying to make sure they still have control of their own playoff destiny, since six of their final eight games will come against the first-place Billings Mustangs.

On the Mound Tonight:
Missoula will send right-hander Karl Triana to the mound tonight as he looks to build on his best start of the season, which was in his most recent outing. Triana (4-4, 4.70) allowed just four hits and three runs (two earned) in six innings of work, walking two and hitting a batter while striking out seven in a win over Ogden on Monday. Triana has pitched six innings on three different occasions this season. Triana is 0-2 against Helena, but is 4-2 against the rest of the league, with a 2.93 ERA. Triana has also been solid at home this season, going 2-2 with a 3.21 ERA in five prior home starts this season.

The Chukars will go with right-hander Alec Mills, who is hoping to continue the string of strong starts he has made since moving into the Chukars’ rotation from the bullpen. Mills (1-3, 2 saves, 3.06 ERA) is 1-1 as a starter, with a 2.70 ERA in four starts since being moved into the rotation last month. Mills, picked in the 22^nd round by the Kansas City Royals in the 2012 MLB Draft out of Tennessee-Martin, started the season in the bullpen, where he was 0-2 with the three saves and a 3.52 ERA. In his last outing, the defense struggled behind him, as he allowed three unearned runs while scattering eight hits in a win over Orem on August 11, and struck out five batters without allowing a walk. Mills has allowed only two walks in 20 innings as a starting pitcher.

Pitching Probables
Sunday, August 19
MIS RHP Yoimer Camacho (2-4, 3.27) vs. IDF RHP Ali Williams (2-3, 4.20)

Monday, August 20
MIS RHP Jared Ray (3-5, 3.32) at OGD LHP Gregg Downing

Tuesday, August 21
MIS RHP Ross Gerdeman (3-4, 5.02) at OGD Pitcher TBA

Wednesday, August 22
MIS RHP Chris Pack (5-1, 5.28) at OGD Pitcher TBA

Thursday, August 23
MIS RHP Karl Triana (4-4, 4.70) at OGD Pitcher TBA

Aug. 24-26
Osprey at Idaho Falls

Aug. 28-29
Osprey vs. Great Falls

Aug. 30-Sept. 2
Osprey at Billings

Sept. 3-4
Osprey at Great Falls

Sept. 5-6
Osprey vs. Billings

Ogren Park Allegiance Field Info

Date Opened: 2004
Capacity: 3,600 (est.)
Record: 4,316 (7/3/12)
OF Distances:
LF – 309’, wall is 17’ tall
LCF – 360’, wall is 8’ tall
CF – 398’, wall is 16’ tall
RCF – 401’, wall is 8’ tall
RF – 287’, wall is 24’ tall
Home Dugout: 3^rd base
Home Bullpen: LF line
Vis. Dugout: 1^st base
Vis. Bullpen:  RF line

L4

4-3

.285

18-20

20-5

T-3^rd

11-8

7-2

4.37

7-6

2-21

3^rd

13-15

8-7

5 games

9-7

3-5

6 games

0-0

6-1

16

19-8

12-15

505

13-9

4-4

8.79

18-3

15/32

TEAM: 60-59, 3^rd in NL West, 5 GB … 6 GB in wildcard