Osprey Preview: Game #22

Who: Missoula Osprey (11–10) at Helena Brewers (10–11)
Where: Kindrick Legion Field — Helena, MT
When: 1:05 P.M. (MT) first pitch
How To Listen: ESPN 102.9 FM | MiLB First Pitch App| MiLB.com
THE MATCHUP
All-Time:
Since the Osprey began playing under their current moniker in 1999, they’ve squared off against the Helena Brewers 264 times, posting an overall mark of 125–139. At home against Helena, the O’s are 2–1 this season and 61–55 historically. With a 1–1 series tie so far in Helena in 2017, the O’s are 42–72 all-time against the Brewers on the road. Last season, Missoula edged out Helena for a 10–6 season series win, going 4–4 at Kindrick Legion Field.
Last Night:
HELENA, MONT. — Thanks to a dominant pitching performance and nine unanswered runs, the Missoula Osprey (11–10) bolted past the Helena Brewers (10–11) for a 9–2 victory at Kindrick Legion Field on Sunday afternoon.
After falling behind 2–0 in the third inning, the Osprey exploded for a four-run response in the subsequent half inning. Eduardo Diaz led off the fourth with a single to right field-his first of three hits in the game. The next batter, Joey Rose, doubled to the wall in center field, scoring Diaz from first and cutting the Missoula deficit in half. Next to the plate, Andy Yerzy blooped a single into left field to score Rose and tie the game. Ernie De La Trinidad added a double to put runners on second and third for second baseman Joel Novas, who lined a single into center field to score both runners, giving the Osprey a 4–2 lead.
Missoula added another run in the top of the fifth after Gabriel Maciel led off with a triple and scored on Diaz’s second single of the game. The RBI extended Diaz’s streak with at least one run batted in to six games. Later in the inning, Yerzy pushed across Missoula’s sixth run of the afternoon with his second RBI-single of the game.
Leading 6–2, Osprey starter Luis Madero settled into cruise control, dominating Helena’s lineup in the process of earning his third win. The right-hander logged his third quality start by tossing six innings in which he allowed two runs (both earned) on six hits and a walk, while striking out six. Now with 28 strikeouts, Madero sits by himself atop the Pioneer League leaderboard.
In the top of the ninth, the Osprey added three final runs on a run-scoring passed ball, an RBI-fielder’s choice by Joey Rose, and an RBI-groundout by Yerzy. Continuing his resurgence, Yerzy finished 2-for-5 with three RBI. The three runs in the ninth pushed Missoula’s lead to its final margin of 9–2.
Between Madero and relievers Cole Stapler and Gabe Gonzalez, the Osprey staff combined to retire 15 of the final 16 hitters the Brewers sent to the batters box. Stapler worked two perfect frames, while Gonzalez fired a scoreless ninth. The win was the club’s fourth in five games.
Tonight:

The Osprey attempt to capture their second series victory over the Brewers in 2017, building upon last week’s 2–1 win at Ogren Park at Allegiance Field. In order to do so, the O’s will have to pick up their fifth win in six games and ninth out of twelve. While the road has not been kind to Missoula overall, the Osprey have posted a 2–2 mark in their last four road contests after stumbling to a 1–5 road record over their first two road series of the season.
Hoping to continue an encouraging recent trend of quality starting pitching, the Osprey hand the ball to left-hander Franklyn Soriano, who enters with a 1–1 record and a 4.11 ERA. Soriano opened a series of five consecutive starts by Osprey pitchers lasting at least six innings, a span during which the club has gone 4–1. In his last outing, Soriano hurled a season-high 6.0 innings and struck out a season-high eight batters against the Great Falls Voyagers on the road. In the start, Soriano earned his first win of the season, allowing just three runs (all earned) on six hits and one walk.
Soriano will be challenged by a Helena lineup that has hit substantially better against left-handed pitching. While the Brewers are last in the Pioneer League in batting average (.251), they’ve hit a respectable .288 against left-handers. To succeed, Soriano will need to replicate his July 5th performance in which he commanded his off-speed pitches early in counts.
Countering for Helena is right-hander Harold Chirino, who enters play with a 1–1 record and a 6.35 ERA. While his first three outings of the seasons came in a starting capacity, Chirino last pitched on July 5th as a reliever. In that outing at Dehler Park against Billings, Chirino lasted 3.1 innings in which he surrendered four runs (all earned) on three hits and three walks, while striking out one.
To quiet the Osprey lineup, Chirino must deviate from a trend that’s seen him struggle at home in 2017. In two starts at home, the right-hander has been tagged for seven runs (all earned) on 10 hits and eight walks, compared to only seven strikeouts in 8.2 innings.
First pitch at Kindrick Legion Field is slated for 7:05 PM, although there are moderate chances of thunderstorms between 3–8 pm in Helena on Monday night. Coverage will begin on 102.9 ESPN Missoula at 6:45 with the Mission Paint Pregame Show.

