Preview: Game #32 — Raptors vs. Osprey

Mick Tidrow
Jul 22, 2017 · 3 min read

Who: Ogden Raptors (17–14) at Missoula Osprey (15–16)

Where: Ogren Park at Allegiance Field — Missoula, MT

When: 7:05 P.M. (MT) first pitch

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

THE MATCHUP

The Osprey and Raptors get together for the third installment of a four-game series on Saturday night. Through the first five games of their season series with Ogden, the O’s have gone 2–3 against the Raptors, including back-to-back home losses to begin their current 10-game homestand. Last night’s loss dropped the Osprey under the .500 threshold for the first time since July 12.

Stat Comparisons:

Batting Average: Ogden (.324/1st) — Missoula (.284/4th)

Home Runs: Ogden (47/1st) — Missoula (27/5th)

Runs Per Game: Ogden (8.13/2nd) — Missoula (5.90/6th)

ERA: Ogden (5.44/4th) — Missoula (6.00/7th)

LAST NIGHT

The Missoula Osprey (15–16) dropped their third consecutive game on Friday night, as the Ogden Raptors (17–14) scored six unanswered runs to sink Missoula by a final score of 8–2. The loss slipped the Osprey out of first place, leaving them now half a game behind the Billings Mustangs, who were rained out on Friday night.

After falling behind 2–0 in the first inning, the Osprey rallied for a pair to tie the game in the home half of the third. Back-to-back singles from Ernie De La Trinidad and Keshawn Lynch posted runners on first and second with none out. Eduardo Diaz then sacrificed to move the runners over to second and third respectively. Joey Rose drove home the first run one batter later on a groundout, scoring De La Trinidad. Immediately following Rose’s run-scoring out, Andy Yerzy knocked home the tying run on a single to left field.

With the game tied entering the fifth inning, Osprey starting pitcher Jimmy Johnson watched his solid outing unravel at the hands of three errors. The right-hander left with two outs in the inning, having surrendered six runs (four earned) on five hits and one walk, while striking out two. At night’s end, Johnson was hung with his first loss of the season.

At the plate, Missoula received two hits from each Keshawn Lynch and Joey Rose, while piling up seven hits as a squad. For the second straight night, the Osprey struggled with runners in scoring position, going just 1-for-6 and leaving eight men on base.

TONIGHT

The Osprey continue searching for their first win of the home stand, as they square off with the Ogden Raptors for the third time in as many nights. Trailing Billings in the North Division pennant race by half a game, the Osprey will be watching as the Mustangs play a double header against the Grand Junction Rockies on the road.

On the mound for Missoula will be left-hander Franklyn Soriano, who toes the rubber for his team-high seventh start of the season, hoping to receive more run support than he did six days ago in Idaho Falls. Soriano pitched five innings and limited the Chukars to two earned runs, but was saddled with a loss after the Osprey succumbed to their first shutout of the season. Soriano has bounced between quality performance and pronounced struggles this season, largely precipitant of his slider command. With a fastball in the mid-80’s, Soriano relies heavily on his slider and functions best when he is able to use his fastball as a secondary offering.

Countering for Ogden is right-hander Osiris Ramirez, a 21-year-old from Santo Domingo, who is 0–2 with a 6.61 ERA in 2017. Ramirez has not pitched more than 4 innings in any start. On the season, the 235-pounder has pitched 16.1 innings, surrendering 12 earned runs on 18 hits and 13 walks, while striking out 17.

At the plate, the Osprey stack up with the below lineup:

  1. Keshawn Lynch — SS
  2. Eduardo Diaz — CF
  3. Luis Lara — 1B
  4. Andy Yerzy — DH
  5. Dominic Miroglio — C
  6. Juan Araujo — RF
  7. Ernie De La Trinidad — LF
  8. Joel Novas — 3B
  9. Brandon Leyton — 2B

Bird Droppings

MLBlog

Mick Tidrow

Written by

Bird Droppings

MLBlog

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