Here we go … the Osprey will try it again tonight against the Idaho Falls Chukars at Ogren Park Allegiance Field. For some reason, tonight feels like it could be a good night for the Osprey … just a feeling in the clubhouse.

Evan Marzilli is not in the lineup because it was supposed to be a day off for him. Marzilli tweaked his left ankle last night, and he could go if he had to, instead, manager Andy Green is sticking to the schedule. The latest Marzilli will be back in the lineup is on Monday at Ogden.

Speaking of Marzilli, he’s our “Excerpts” subject on the pre-game show tonight at 6:50, with the first pitch slated for around 7:05 on AM 930 KMPT and online at MissoulaOsprey.com.

Missoula Osprey (11-8, 29-28)				Idaho Falls Chukars (11-8, 28-29)
1	14 Pedro Ruiz		SS	1	23 Ethan Chapman		CF
	.309, 2 HR, 13 RBI				.328, 0 HR, 22 RBI
2	21 Breland Almadova		CF	2	7 Adlaberto Mondesi		SS
	.309, 1 HR, 21 RBI				.284, 2 HR, 22 RBI
3	18 Jake Lamb		3B	3	2 Elier Hernandez		RF
	.311, 4 HR, 38 RBI				.206, 0 HR, 28 RBI
4	26 Yosbel Gutierrez		C	4	20 Nick Cuckovich		DH
	.289, 1 HR, 9 RBI				.249, 2 HR, 32 RBI
5	19 Socrates Brito		RF	5	43 Jin-Ho Shin		C
	.309, 2 HR, 25 RBI				.292, 4 HR, 21 RBI
6	9 Danny Pulfer		2B	6	6 Rainier Bello		1B
	.308, 2 HR, 22 RBI				.266, 4 HR, 30 RBI
7	33 Rudy Flores		1B	7	14 Nick DelGuidice		3B
	.292, 0 HR, 17 RBI				.308, 1 HR, 16 RBI
8	30 Tyler Bream		DH	8	39 Jerico Blanco		LF
	.279, 2 HR, 18 RBI				.244, 0 HR, 9 RBI
9	15 Alex Glenn		LF	9	32 Carlos Garcia		2B
	.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI				.265, 1 HR, 16 RBI
P	29 Karl Triana		P	P	8 Alec Mills		P

Umpires: Home – Sean Allen; Bases – Cody Oakes

The Skinny: Game three of the four-game set between the Osprey and Idaho Falls Chukars takes place tonight here at Ogren Park Allegiance Field. 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 22nd 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: 3rd base Home Bullpen: LF line Vis. Dugout: 1st base Vis. Bullpen:  RF line

By The Numbers:

Current Streak:	L4	Extra Innings:	4-3	Team Hitting:	.285
First Half:	18-20	Lead After 5:	20-5	PL Rank:	T-3rd
Second Half:	11-8	Tied After 5:	7-2	Team Pitching:	4.37
June:	7-6	Trail After 5:	2-21	PL Rank:	3rd
July:	13-15	One-run games:	8-7	Longest Winning Streak:	5 games
August:	9-7	Two-run games:	3-5	Longest Losing Streak	6 games
September:	0-0	Three-run games:	6-1	HR total at home:	16
Score First:	19-8	+3-run games:	12-15	Pitching K total:	505
Score Last:	13-9	Shutout Record:	4-4	Pitching K/9IP Ratio:	8.79
Reaching 11-hit Mark:	18-3			Peanut Inning Success:	15/32

D-backs Minor League Report/Osprey Alumni Update:

AZL D-backs	Alumni Briefing: Justin Bianco (2011-12) singled, doubled, drove in a run and scored a run as the AZL D-backs beat the AZL Angels on Thursday, 4-2.
Record: 22-23
Ends season Aug. 29
DSL D-backs	Update: The DSL D-backs are a half-game ahead of the DSL Rockies for first in the Baseball City Division.
Record: 37-26
Ends season Aug. 25
SS-A Yakima	Alumni Briefing: Josh Parr (2011) was 1-for-4 with an RBI as the Bears beat Spokane on Friday, 6-1. Victor Acosta (2010) and Enrique Burgos (2009, 11) combined to pitch four shutout innings of relief.
Record: 11-13, 32-30
Next: vs. Spokane, with Blake Perry (2010) getting the start for the Bears
Class A South Bend	Alumni Briefing: Eric Groff (2010-11) singled and walked, while Tom Belza (2011), Matt Helm (2009-10) and Roidany Aguila (2009-11) each added a base hit in the Silver Hawks’ 2-0 loss to West Michigan on Friday. Keith Hessler (2011) allowed just an earned run in 6 2/3 innings of work, while JR Bradley (2010) and Jesse Darrah (2011) combined for 2 1/3 shutout innings of relief.
Record: 26-26, 61-61
Next: at Bowling Green
Class A Advanced Visalia	Alumni Briefing: Ender Incirate (2009) went 4-for-4 at the plate with three runs scored and a stolen base, but the Rawhide lost at Modesto on Friday, 7-6 in 10 innings. Bradin Hagens (2009) was stellar in his start, allowing just an earned run on five hits and two walks while striking out six batters in seven innings of work. Unfortunately, Seth Simmons (2011) surrendered five runs, including four in the bottom of the 9th that tied the game, and took the loss on the mound.
Record: 27-26, 58-65
Next: at Modesto, with Anthony Meo (2011) starting for the Rawhide
Double-A Mobile	Alumni Briefing: The BayBears split a doubleheader with Pensacola on Friday. In Game 1, Eury De La Rosa (2009) earned his sixth save of the season in a 4-1 victory. In Game 2, Chris Owings (2009) and David Nick (2009) each collected a base hit in a 10-2 loss. Yonata Ortega (2007) pitched a scoreless frame, while Kyle Greene (2008) became the latest former Osprey position player to play for Mobile to try his hand at pitching. He went 1-for-2 at the plate, and pitched an inning on the mound, allowing a two-run home run by also collecting a strikeout.
Record: 22-32, 62-62
Next: vs. Pensacola (DH)
Triple-A Reno	Alumni Briefing: Adam Eaton (2010) went 3-for-4 with two RBIs as the Aces snapped a six-game losing streak and beat Round Rock on Friday, 8-2. Eaton bumped his batting average up to .385 with the effort. Both of his RBIs came with two out.
Record: 72-55
Next: at Tacoma

Former Osprey with the Arizona Diamondbacks:

Paul Goldschmidt (2009)	.298 BA, 18 HR, 64 RBI, .896 OPS	Gerardo Parra (2006)	.276 BA, 6 HR, 30 RBI, .742 OPS
Miguel Montero (2002-03)	.286 BA, 14 HR, 70 RBI, .859 OPS	Jake Elmore (2008)	2-9 (was 2-4 w/2B on Thursday)
TEAM: 60-59, 3rd in NL West, 5 GB … 6 GB in wildcard

Game two of the four-game series between the Osprey and the Idaho Falls Chukars will take place tonight here at Ogren Park Allegiance Field. Gates open at 5:30 for Happy Hour Night.

First, catching you up on things … the Osprey will be without Ty Linton for the rest of the 2012 season. The preliminary diagnosis is a torn ligament in the left knee. Further tests will be done before surgery is preformed. Linton will be heading back down to Phoenix soon for the exam and procedure. Our thoughts are with him, and we wish him well in the future. The Osprey have received outfielder Alex Glenn to fill in, and Glenn will start tonight. More on him in the game notes.

The pre-game show guest tonight will be one of our assistants this, well in her case the past two seasons, and someone with a baseball background in MaLeigha Stottlemyre. She’ll share what it was like growing up in a baseball household and how the sport is indeed in her blood. Pre-game begins at 6:50, with the first pitch slated for around 7:05 tonight here on AM 930 KMPT and online at MissoulaOsprey.com. Continue reading →

The next four games in Missoula will have two teams in chase mode – the Osprey and the Idaho Falls Chukars – playing each other, trying to catch the teams in front of them for first place in the Pioneer League second-half pennant chase. The Osprey enter tonight two games back of Billings in the North Division, while the Chukars are two games back of Orem in the South Division.

The Osprey and Chukars get started around 7:05. Pre-game is set for 6:55 tonight, and will feature an interview with former Osprey player and coach Hatuey “Chewy” Mendoza. We’re on the air on AM 930 KMPT and online at MissoulaOsprey.com.

Also, don’t hesitate to check out the Osprey Online Box Suite, where fans from all over the world can converge and talk Osprey baseball, and other things. Keep in mind, though, that most of those in the room are listening online, so if you are one of the fortunate ones that still has unlimited data on their smartphones, you can be at the game and in the room at the same time. So don’t give anything away …  the radio broadcast is on a 60-second delay to the online listeners, so be respectful of that. Thing is, we want you in the Suite!! And don’t forget to say hi to JAG when you’re in there … Continue reading →

The Osprey look to take a series against the Raptors, who answered the Missoula win on Monday with one of their own last night. The Osprey will look to Jared Ray to get the job done on the mound tonight, with an air time of 6:50, and a first pitch around 7:05. Listen to the game on AM 930 KMPT and online at MissoulaOsprey.com.

The pre-game show will feature the upcoming events this weekend as the seven-game homestand is on the backstretch and heading to the final turn. We’ll also have the recap from last night as well as a look at what happened around the league.

Tonight’s lineups and notes follow … Continue reading →

The Osprey are back into a tie for first in the Pioneer League’s North Division, and they will look to at least stay there tonight as they host the Ogden Raptors in the second of a three-game series at Ogren Park Allegiance Field. We’re on the air at 6:50, with relief pitcher Chase Stevens as our guest. First pitch is about 7:05 on AM 930 KMPT and online at MissoulaOsprey.com.

Here are tonight’s lineups and notes: Continue reading →

The same night the Osprey find out that former O’s infielder Jake Elmore has been promoted to the D-backs, they get another shot at the Billings Mustangs, who have won two straight at Ogren Park Allegiance Field.

The lineups for tonight’s key game are below, as well as the game notes. The broadcast will begin at 6:50, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05 on AM 930 and online at MissoulaOsprey.com. Our pre-game interview – right now, TBD. Continue reading →

by Ben Catley

Jake Elmore, who played in Missoula in 2008, has been promoted from Triple-A Reno to the Arizona Diamondbacks. The 34th round pick in the 2008 MLB Draft out of Arizona State University becomes the 37th former Osprey player to earn a spot on a Major League Baseball roster, and the first to make his debut on a roster this season.

For those of you who read this, the move should be no surprise. Elmore, who along with Adam Eaton tore up Pacific Coast League pitching, has posted a career-best season for the Aces, ranking in the league’s top five in a number of statistical categories.

Also, remember this?? Yes, someone sort of called this shot. When I went back and read what I had wrote on March 31, I could not believe my eyes. Especially this line:

ETA: My guess is, if he has a great season at Triple-A, late 2012

Of course, I went on to say, because I felt strongly about it, that it would either be Eaton or no position players in 2012. But the big season pieced together by Elmore just cememted things for him. He will get a bit of a look to see what he can do, and see if he can continue to be part of the possible equation.

“Elmo” is one of my favorite Osprey of all time, so here’s to him sticking in the Major Leagues.