Game 13: Miners vs. Glacier Pilots, 7:00 p.m.

Tonight the Miners will look to get back on track when they meet the Anchorage Glacier Pilots in game four of their five game series. Last night the Glacier Pilots used timely hits and solid pitching to defeat the Miners by a score of 7-0. The Miners had countless opportunities, but couldn’t find a big hit to get them on the board.  It’s rare in baseball a team loses by seven runs but out-hits their opponent. Last night, that’s what happened. The Miners were able to scatter eight hits, but left a stunning fourteen runners on base. 

The Miners received another quality outing from a starting pitcher, when David Gibson (Jr./Bluefield) turned in a start that saw him go six innings, allow one run, and strike out eight. That run came when Aaron Judge scored on a wild pitch in the fifth inning. Brock Simon (Fr./Santa Clara) and Neal Dennison (So./Georgetown) pitched in relief, combining to work the final three innings and allow six runs on five hits.

While the game last night was certainly frustrating, the positive to be taken away was that the Miners had opportunities. On June 16^th, the Miners lost 3-1 to the AIA Fire. In that game the Miners only were able to have three hits, and just one of those hits came after the second inning. Last night, the Miners battled. In both the seventh and eighth innings the Miners had threats before stranding two base runners in each inning. At that point the game was still close, with the Pilots leading only 3-0. One hit in either of those innings, and the entire outlook of the game may have been different. But that’s baseball. The only other defeat the Miners had taken in ABL play to this point was last Thursday. The Miners responded great the following night, shutting out the Bucs 6-0. Hopefully for Miner fans, that resiliency will again be put on display this evening.

Tonight the Miners turn to St. John’s southpaw Brendan Lobban (0-2, 3.60 era). Lobban has made two prior appearances against the Pilots. On June 9^th, Lobban pitched the 12^th inning of an exhibition contest. Lobban surrendered a two-run single to Brady Hohl that later gave the Pilots the win. Including his college season, it was Lobban’s only relief appearance of 2011. A night later against the same Pilots, Lobban started the contest at Mulcahy Stadium, throwing four scoreless innings and allowing one hit before taking a no-decision.

Elsewhere in the ABL last night the Peninsula Oilers defeated the Athletes In Action Fire, 9-1. The teams meet again this evening down in Kenai at 7:00 p.m. The Anchorage Bucs will make the trek north to begin a non-league series in Fairbanks against the Goldpanners. First-pitch from Growden Memorial Park is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

 

            ABL Standings

1.     Peninsula Oilers  3-1

2.     Mat-Su Miners 5-2

3.     Anchorage Bucs 3-2

4.     AIA Fire 5-5

5.     Anchorage Pilots 1-7

Tonight’s Game: Miners (5-2) vs. Pilots (1-7)

First-pitch: 7:00 p.m. from Hermon Brothers Field. It’s Alaska USA Federal Credit Union Day at the ballpark.

Media: Matt Dudas and Michael Broskowski have the call beginning at 6:50 p.m. with the Mat-Su Miners Pre-Game Show. The game can be heard locally on Q99.7 and www.matsuminers.org.

Pre-Game Guest: TBA

Tomorrow: The Miners close out the series with Pilots, with a 7:00 p.m. game.

-Matt Dudas