Last Time Out:
Jared Ray and two relievers combined to scatter seven hits and collect the second straight shutout by the Missoula Osprey pitching staff in a 3-0 win over the Helena Brewers in front of 840 fans on Thursday here at Kindrick Legion Field. Ray (3-4) went seven innings, allowing just four hits and struck out five batters to win his second straight start. Chris Thomas allowed just a hit and struck out a batter while pitching a scoreless eighth inning, and Justin Thompson pitched around two ninth-inning hits while striking out a pair of batters and earned his seventh save of the season. The Osprey scored first, breaking the scoreless tie in the top of the sixth inning as Pedro Ruiz singled, moved to second on a wild pitch, to third on a balk and scored on Jake Lamb one-out double down the right field line. Missoula added a pair of runs with single tallies in the eighth inning, on a Evan Marzilli run-scoring single, and in the ninth, on a Danny Pulfer two-out RBI double. Pulfer and Kevin Dultz each had two of Missoula’s 10 hits, while Breland Almadova, Ty Linton and Michael Perez added base hits for the Osprey.

Historic Series in Helena:
The Osprey pulled off a franchise first on Thursday night, logging its second straight shutout against the Helena Brewers. No other Osprey team, not even the 2006 squad, which statistically was the stingiest pitching staff in club history, could pull off that feat. The Osprey staff finished the Helena series on a 19-inning scoreless streak. It’s also the first time in club history that the O’s have been involved in three straight shutout games, the first of which was the Brewers blanking the Osprey. In August 27-28, 2008, the Osprey were shut out twice in a row, and in August 20-21 of 2006, the Osprey blanked Casper one night, only to have the Rockies blank the Osprey one night later. The closest occurrence was in 1999, when the Osprey posted two shutouts in a three-day span – August 6 and 8, which were 4-0 and 9-0 shutouts of Ogden.

On the Mound Tonight:
Missoula will send right-hander Ross Gerdeman to the mound tonight as he looks to get back on the winning track. Gerdeman (3-2, 4.39) has made two starts against Billings this season, and it was a tale of two different pitchers. In his first start of the season, on Opening Night, Gerdeman scattered five hits while allowing two runs (one earned) in 5 2/3 innings pitched in a win at Dehler Park. Gerdeman then pitched against the Mustangs at Ogren Park on July 3, and suffered the loss, allowing six runs on five hits and two walks. He has also committed all three of his balks this season against the Mustangs. In his last start on Sunday, Gerdeman allowed four earned runs (five total) on seven hits and a walk in a no-decision against Helena.

The Mustangs will counter tonight with right-hander Jon Moscot, who is making his sixth start of the season for the Mustangs. Moscot (0-0, 2.70) has been capped off at two innings in each outing, allowing eight hits and four runs (three earned) in 10 innings of work. He will be followed by Jose Amezuca (1-4, 4.91) who has allowed three runs in three prior innings of work against the Osprey this season (0-1, 9.00).

Pitching Probables
Saturday, August 11
MIS RHP Chris Pack (5-1, 4.95) vs. BIL LHP Amir Garrett (0-0, 0.00)

Sunday, August 12
Off-Day

Mon.-Wed., Aug. 13-15
Osprey vs. Ogden
Mon. – RHP Karl Triana vs. OGD LHP Jake Hermesen

Tues. – RHP Yoimer Camacho vs. OGD RHP Lindsey Caughel

Wed. – RHP Jared Ray vs. OGD LHP Matt Laney

Thurs.-Sun., Aug. 16-19
Osprey vs. Idaho Falls
Thurs. – Ross Gerdeman
Fri. – Chris Pack
Sat. – Karl Triana
Sun. – Yoimer Camacho
(IF Starters TBA)

Stat of the Day:
Evan Marzilli was 0-for-4 on Thursday, yet jumped up to 4^th in the Pioneer League in hitting. He’s tied with two others with a .354 batting average.

W2

4-3

.285

18-20

19-4

4^th

9-3

7-2

4.08

7-6

1-17

T-1^st

13-15

7-7

5 games

7-2

3-3

6 games

0-0

6-1

14

18-8

11-12

439

11-5

4-3

8.70

17-1

12/25

TEAM: 57-55, 3^rd in NL West, 4 GB … 6.5 GB in wildcard

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

Last Time Out:
Four Orem Owlz pitchers combine to scatter six hits and shut down the Missoula Osprey offense on Monday here at Ogren Park Allegiance Field, giving the Owlz a 6-0 win in front of 2,846 fans. Orem jumped out to a 5-0 lead after the first two innings off of Missoula starter Karl Triana (2-2). However, that would be all Triana would allow, as he would pitch six innings, scattering nine hits and a walk while striking out six. Triana allowed just three hits in his last four innings of work. Dexter Price allowed an unearned run in his two innings of work, while Bobby O’Neill pitched out of a jam in the top of the ninth inning to escape with a scoreless outing for the Osprey. Pedro Ruiz singled twice and tripled, collecting three of the six Osprey hits in the contest. Socrates Brito added a double and a pair of walks, while Michael Perez and Breland Almadova also singed for Missoula. For the Owlz, it was their first shutout as a pitching staff since they blanked Casper, 1-0, on September 2, 2010.

Power Drought:
It’s a different Osprey offensive team than in years past, and the past 10 games is evidence of that. In that time, the Osprey have hit just two home runs – both by Justin Bianco in one game at Helena. The Osprey have gone the entire homestand to date without hitting a roundtripper – which if the drought continues through tonight’s game, would be the first time the O’s went homerless at home for more than one series since they moved into what is now known as Ogren Park Allegiance Field in 2004. They have hit three home runs in their last 12 games (Yosbel Gutierrez in the opener at Great Falls on July 4), and the last home run hit at home was by Ty Linton, back on July 3 against Billings.

Still streakin’:
Even though he has played in 24 games, Pedro Ruiz has an intact streak of 23 straight games reaching base. He was brought in defensively in a game but never made a plate appearance. He also has the longest hit streak by an Osprey player this season (11).

On the Mound Tonight:
Missoula will send right-hander Yoimer Camacho to the hill as he continues to work his way back from an early-season ankle injury. Camacho (0-1, 2.13) took the loss in his first start, despite allowing just an earned run in 4 2/3 innings of work. He left that start at Billings with a sprained ankle, but has been solid since his return. In eight innings of work, spanning two starts, Camacho has allowed just a pair of runs on six hits and a walk, while striking out 13 batters. Camacho left his last start in line for a win against Grand Junction, surrendering just four hits and a run, on a solo home run, while striking out seven Rockies.

The Owlz will counter tonight with right-hander Gabriel Perez, whose numbers don’t tell the whole story of his 2012 season. Perez (4-1, 4.94) has had one bad outing – where he surrendered eight runs on 10 hits in a loss at Grand Junction. Other than that outing on June 26, Perez has been solid, giving up just five total runs in his four other starts, all of them wins, including road outings at Ogden and Billings. Perez is 3-0 in the month of July with a 2.40 ERA and a .175 opponent’s batting average. Perez has also struck out 17 in 15 July innings.

Pitching Probables
Wednesday, July 18
Off-day

Thursday, July 19
MIS RHP Jared Ray (1-2, 3.91) at GJ RHP Matt Carasiti (1-1, 4.56)

Friday, July 20
MIS RHP Ross Gerdeman (1-2, 5.29) at GJ RHP Josh Mueller (2-3, 8.38)

Saturday, July 21
MIS RHP Chris Pack (2-1, 4.98) vs. GJ RHP Alving Mejias (1-4, 7.50)

Pitcher’s Best Friend:
In his first four outings this season, Ross Gerdeman did not induce a single grounded into double play. In his last two starts, he has induced six of them, including four on Saturday night. It’s believed the five total DP tied a long-standing league record of five, done twice.

L2

3-2

.279

14-14

9-3

4^th

0-0

4-2

4.39

7-6

1-9

3^rd

7-8

4-4

3 games

0-0

1-1

3 games

0-0

3-1

7

8-6

6-8

238

8-3

1-2

8.42

TEAM: 43-46, 3^rd in NL West, 6 GB … 6 GB in wildcard

Last Time Out:
Rudy Flores hit a key two-run double with two out in the bottom of the sixth inning to help the Missoula Osprey snap a brief two-game slide with a 4-2 win over the Orem Owlz on Saturday at Ogren Park Allegiance Field. The 2,142 fans in attendance witnessed Welcome to the Major Leagues Night – where both teams wore the uniforms of their parent clubs, the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. They were also witnesses to five double plays turned by the Missoula defense, including a strikeout-pickoff twin-killing that helped the Osprey seal the win in the top of the ninth inning. Flores hit a fly ball to left with two on and two out in the bottom of the sixth deep to left, which carried to the left-field fence then caromed away from left-fielder Joel Capote, allowing both Socrates Brito and Yosbel Gutierrez to score on the play, snapping a 2-2 tie in the sixth. The bullpen made the run-scoring double stand up, as both Chris Capper (2-1) and Justin Thompson kept things quiet enough to finish off the win. Thompson picked up his fourth save of the season, but it wasn’t easy, as the first two batters reached against him to lead off the top of the ninth. However, Thompson managed to strike out Michael Bolaski, and catcher Michael Perez picked off Wendell Soto from first to get the first two outs on the board. Chevy Clarke would then fly out to center field to end the game. The Owlz took a 1-0 lead in their half of the first on a RBI single by Michael Snyder, but the Osprey responded with a two-run home half of the inning. Jake Lamb’s RBI triple and a sacrifice fly by Perez to put the Osprey in front, 2-1. Orem would tie the game with a Capote RBI groundout in the top of the fifth. Lamb and Flores combined for four of the six Osprey hits on the night. Gutierrez and Evan Marzilli – who had reached on a base hit in each of his first nine games as a professional baseball player – added base hits for Missoula.

On the Mound Tonight:
Missoula will send right-hander Chris Pack to the mound to continue to build his resume of solid outings. Pack (2-1, 3.99 ERA) won in his last start on Monday in Helena, allowing just two runs (one earned) on five hits and a walk while striking out four batters in what was his shortest outing of the season. Pack has pitched into the sixth on each of his four other starts, and has a season-best outing of seven innings. Teams hit .226 off of Pack, with right-handers (.210) having a tougher time than lefties (.250). Pack is one of a handful of Osprey pitchers who had professional experience prior to this season, pitching for the Joliet Slammers of the Frontier League in 2011. Pack was a reliever for the Slammers, and helped them win their first-ever division title that season. The D-backs purchased the rights to Pack this past spring.

The Owlz will counter tonight with right-hander Jairo Diaz, who has been a workhorse this season for Tom Kotchman’s pitching staff. Diaz (2-2, 4.71) has surrendered 19 runs in 21 innings pitched this season – only 11 of which were earned – but has given up only four walks in his four starts. Diaz has been solid at Brent Brown Ballpark, posting a 2.87 home ERA, but in one road start, gave up six earned runs (seven total) in a loss at Grand Junction. Diaz, from Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela, signed as a free agent in 2007, and started his 2012 season with Class A Cedar Rapids, where he was 2-7 with a 7.70 ERA in 13 starts.

Pitching Probables

Monday, July 16
MIS RHP Karl Triana (2-1, 5.12) vs. ORM RHP Pat Lowery (0-2, 10.80)

Tuesday, July 17
MIS RHP Yoimer Camacho (0-1, 2.13) vs. ORM RHP Gabriel Perez (4-1, 4.94)

Upcoming road trip
Thurs.-Sunday, July 19-22
At Grand Junction
Monday-Wed., July 23-25
At Orem

Hitting and Winning:

The Osprey have a hit plateau to reach for when they want to win games – 11. On the eight times Missoula has collected 11 or more hits, they have an 8-0 record. Oddly enough, they are 0-4 when they finish with exactly 10 hits in a game. If they are under 11 hits in a game, they are now 6-12 on the season.

W1

3-2

.278

14-12

9-3

T-4^th

0-0

4-2

4.11

7-6

1-7

2^nd

7-6

4-4

3 games

0-0

1-1

3 games

0-0

3-1

7

8-5

6-6

228

8-3

1-1

8.68

TEAM: 42-45, 3^rd in NL West, 5.5 GB … 7 GB in wildcard