Osprey Preview: Game 71
Who: Missoula Osprey (35–35 |16–16) @ Helena Brewers (26–44 | 11–21)
Where: Kindrick Field — Helena, MT
When: 4:05 P.M. (MT) first pitch
How To Listen: ESPN 102.9 FM | MiLB First Pitch App| MiLB.com
THE MATCHUP
The Osprey and Brewers get together for their 15th and penultimate meeting of the season on Monday in the late afternoon. Entering play, the O’s have enjoyed an 8–6 record against the Brewers, but have struggled in the state’s capital, going just 2–4 in Helena. With a win on Monday, Missoula can clinch the season series with the Brewers for the second consecutive season.
LAST NIGHT
The Missoula Osprey (16–16, 35–35) scored seven runs in the top of the first inning to seize control of the game from its onset, eventually downing the Great Falls Voyagers (16–16, 31–39) by a final score of 9–2 at Centene Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Facing Great Falls ace Kyle Von Ruden, the Osprey raced out of the starting blocks, as the first seven batters reached base consecutively to begin the ballgame. Gabriel Maciel doubled to lead off and was followed by back-to-back walks by Eduardo Diaz and Keshawn Lynch to load the bases. William Gorman then lined a single off the thigh of Von Ruden to score the first run of the game. Joel Novas added an RBI single followed by a two-run double from Terence Connelly for his fifth and sixth RBIs of the series. Missoula added three final runs in the inning on RBI singles by Dominic Miroglio and Maciel, while Gavin Stupienski notched a run-scoring sacrifice fly.
With a 7–0 lead before setting foot on the mound for the first time, right-hander Cole Stapler was afforded the freedom to work loosely despite lacking his typical pinpoint control. In four innings, Stapler allowed only one run on a run-scoring groundout in the second inning. The Louisiana native surrendered just two hits, but struck out only one batter and issued multiple walks for only the second time this year.
Novas pushed the Osprey to their final run total with RBI singles in the fourth and eighth innings, completing a three-hit, three-RBI game for the third baseman. Novas was one of five Osprey batters to record multiple hits. Novas, Miroglio, and Maciel each posted three-hit days.
After Stapler’s exit, right-hander Jimmy Johnson worked three hitless innings in which he surrendered just a pair of walks and struck out two. Johnson earned his third victory of the season and second in his last two appearances. The Voyagers struck for a solo home run in the ninth to push the score to its final margin of 9–2, falling to the Osprey for the sixth time in their last seven meetings. Missoula has now won 11 of its last 15 games, including three straight.
MONDAY
The Osprey open a brief two-game series in Helena to conclude their season series with the Brewers. Already with 8 head-to-head wins against the Brewers this season, the Osprey have an opportunity to win the season series against the Brewers for a second consecutive year. In order to do so, the Osprey must go through right-hander Karsen Lindell for Helena, a pitcher with whom they’ve developed a good deal of familiarity.
In his two outings against the Osprey, Lindell has pitched 8.0 innings and surrendered 5 runs (all earned) on 10 hits and 6 walks, while striking out only 2. In his last start against the Osprey, Lindell turned in arguably his best performance of the season, allowing only a single run in 5.0 innings on the bump.
Pitching for the Osprey will be left-hander Franklyn Soriano, who expects to make his fourth start against the Brewers in 2017. In three previousstarts against Helena, Soriano has gone 10.0 full innings, while surrendering 14 runs (12 earned runs) on 19 hits and six walks, while striking out four and surrendering three homers. Soriano’s ERA of 10.80 against Helena is nearly twice that of his season-long mark of 5.95. In his most recent meeting with the Brewers, Soriano exited in line for a victory, leading 4–3, but was relegated to a no-decision when closer Abraham Almonte blew his first save of the season.
In his last outing on August 30, the lefty sstruggled with his control through 4.0 innings against Billings at home, matching his season-highs in walks (4), earned runs allowed (5), and home runs (2). In battling through 4.0 innings, Soriano exited the game trailing 5–1, but was released from possibly taking a loss when the Osprey rallied late to win the game by a final score of 9–7.
Items of Interest regarding Soriano:
- Note: Has surrendered one or more home run in 9 of his 14 starts, including 6 of his last 7.
- Innings 1-2: 25.2 IP, 6.66 ERA, 21K, 16BB
- Innings 3-6: 33.1 IP, 5.40 ERA, 30K, 14BB
RANDOM NOTES
Homers — Having surrendered 95 homers, the Osprey have given up more long balls than any other pitching staff in the history of the Pioneer League. The record-breaking homer was sit by Great Falls DH Justin Yurckak off Abraham Almnote in the ninth inning of the September 3 game at Centene Stadium. The rew mark surpasses the 2007 Osprey for the previous league record of 94 dingers surrendered.
Labor Day —The Osprey meet the Brewers on Labor Day for the fifth time since 2007. In their prior four Labor Day meetings with Helena, including the continuation of a smoke-suspended game in 2015, the O’s have gone 1-3. Overall since 2007, the Osprey have been rained out twice on Labor Day (2016 & 2008), while posting a total record of 4-5.
LINEUP
- Ernie De La Trinidad — CF
- Joel Novas — 3B
- William Gorman — LF
- Andy Yerzy — C
- Juan Araujo — RF
- Francis Martinez — 1B
- Jose Caballero — 2B
- Brandon Leyton — SS
- Eddie Hernandez — DH
- P — Franklyn Soriano
NEXT GAME
Tuesday, September 5 (7:05 pm) at Helena
