Osprey Preview: Playoff #1

(Patrick Record) Third baseman Joel Novas has filled in admirably since Joey Rose was lost for the season on August 23, posting a .310 average and 11 RBI in 14 games.

Who: Missoula Osprey (38–38, 19–19) @ Great Falls Voyagers (34–42, 19–19)

Where: Centene Stadium — Great Falls, MT

When: 6:00 P.M. (MT) first pitch

How To Listen: ESPN 102.9 FM | MiLB First Pitch App| MiLB.com

THE MATCHUP

The Osprey and Voyagers get together for their fourth all-time postseason series and first since 2012 when the Osprey took 2 of 3 to advance to the Pioneer League Championship Series. All-time, the Osprey own a 2–1 advantage in playoff series against Great Falls, including a 5–4 all-time lead in individual playoff games. During the 2017 season, the Osprey enjoyed more success against the Voyagers than any other team, posting a 10–6 head-to-head record. Missoula has split eight games against Great Falls at Centene Stadium, but went 3–1 in the Voyagers’ home park during the second half. Overall, the Osprey have won 8 of their last 11 meetings with the Voyagers.

LAST NIGHT

Riding back-to-back losses into Saturday night’s regular-season finale, the Missoula Osprey (19–19, 38–38) exploded at the plate in the process of routing the Great Falls Voyagers (34–42, 19–19) by a final score of 14–3 at Centene Stadium to clinch a share of the North Division second-half title.

The Osprey struck first in the second inning on an RBI single from Jose Caballero against Great Falls starter Lincoln Henzman. The run was the only that Henzman allowed, but the right-hander was eventually saddled with the loss after pitching 3.1 innings of quality work.

Leading 1–0 entering the fourth, the Osprey lineup erupted against the Great Falls bullpen. Juan Araujo led off with a walk that was followed by four consecutive singles. A pair of fielding errors by the Voyagers coupled with a double from Eduardo Diaz helped the Osprey plate five runs in the fourth to seize a 6–0 lead.

With a substantial lead at his back, Osprey starter Edgar Martinez settled into a productive rhythm, pitching five scoreless innings before running into trouble in the sixth. In the process of earning his third win of the season, Martinez finished 5.1 innings in which he surrendered three runs (all earned) on 10 hits, striking out a career-high six without issuing a walk.

Three Great Falls runs in the bottom of the sixth cut Missoula’s lead to 6–3, but the Osprey offered an immediate response, plating a trio of their own in the top of the seventh. Missoula loaded the bases with one out before consecutive singles by Joel Novasand Gabriel Maciel drove in runs. Keshawn Lynch added a bases-loaded walk to widen the margin to 9–3.

In the final two innings, the Osprey added five additional runs, including four in the ninth, to push the score to its final mark of 14–3. Owning 19 hits collectively, the Osprey were paced by Dominic Miroglio’s first career four-hit game in addition to three-hit nights for Terence Connelly, Jose Caballero, and Eduardo Diaz. Connelly and Novas each drove in two runs, while Caballero added a season-high-tying three runs batted in.

With the victory, the Osprey clinched a share of the second-half North Division title, making the 2017 club the first in franchise history to win at least a share of both halves. They’ll have home field advantage throughout the Pioneer League Playoffs.

TONIGHT

Game 1 of the Pioneer League North Division Championship Series at Centene Stadium. Having played six of their final eight regular-season games against the Voyagers, the Osprey have developed a notable degree of familiarity with their counterparts from Great Falls.

In Game 1, the Osprey hand the ball to a well-rested Cole Stapler, who has not pitched since September 3rd at Great Falls. Stapler, arguably the ace of the Osprey staff, has made a habit of pitching 3–4 dominant innings each time he toes the rubber. Stapler has made three appearances against the Voyagers, including his last start on September 3rd. In 6.0 total innings of work against Great Falls, Stapler has surrendered 4 runs (3 earned) on 6 hits and 2 walks, while striking out 4.

Despite struggling with his command of the strike zone, Stapler worked 4.0 innings against the Voyagers on September 3rd in which he allowed only a single unearned run. The right-hander walked a pair of batters, making the start only his second multi-walk appearance of the season. With only 1 strikeout, Stapler finished with more walks than strikeouts for the first time in 2017.

Opposing Stapler for Great Falls will be right-hander Chris Comito, an Iowa native that has posted a 3–7 record and an ERA of 5.09 spread across 15 starts. The righty endured a difficult August, delivering a 7.16 ERA in 27.2 innings after maintaining a 3.74 ERA mark through his first eight starts.

One fascinating item to keep in mind as it pertains to Comito is his prior experience. While Comito did not pitch in either of Great Falls’ two postseason games last season, the right-hander did post an 8–1 mark with a 3.43 ERA in 86.2 innings of Pioneer League work a year ago. 2017 has been a struggle for Comito, but history tells us that there is the potential for dominance at this level festering below his exterior.

LINEUP

1. Gabriel Maciel — LF
2. Eduardo Diaz — CF
3. Keshawn Lynch — 2B
4. Andy Yerzy — C
5. Gavin Stupienski — DH
6. Ernie De La Trinidad — RF
7. Terence Connelly — 1B
8. Joel Novas — 3B
9. Brandon Leyton — SS
10. P — Cole Stapler (RHP)