Game 26: Miners at Oilers, 1:00 p.m.

This afternoon the Mat-Su Miners look to get back on track in game two of their four-game series against the Peninsula Oilers. In game one the Oilers defeated the Miners, despite a strong effort from LHP Mark Anderson (So./BYU) who took the loss. The Oilers were able to have nine hits against Anderson, but his defense picked him up in some critical times including Michael Gerlach (So./Cabrillo) throwing two runners out trying to score at home plate.

Offensively, the Miners were able to tie the game in the third inning when Dominick Francia (Fr./Louis. Laf.) was able to work a two out walk. The was followed by Stephen Branca (Jr./Tennessee Wesleyan) singling to right field. Clean-up hitter Wesley Jones (Jr./Milligan) continued his hot hitting singling back up the middle, scoring Francia to tie the game.

The Oilers would answer back quickly with a run in the third inning. Ninth-place hitter Nate Ring (So./Cal St. Northridge) singled, and one pitch later Mike Miller hit a double. The hit scored Ring from first, and that was all Oilers starter Joe Macial (Fr./Long Beach St.) would need. Macial exited the game following a Kevin Lum double in the 7th, giving way to the Oilers 'pen. Brandon Kizer (Jr./Seattle) would come on to retire the side in the seventh, and work an easy eighth to keep the Oilers ahead.

In the home eighth, the Oilers were able to get to Miners reliever Jacob Brewer (Fr./Ball St.). After back-to-back singles from Chris Mallory (Jr./Fresno St.) and Patrick Wisdom (So./St. Mary's) to begin the inning the Oilers would then get a wild-pitch to have second and third and no outs. A sacrifice fly from Manny Acosta (Fr./Cal St. LA) three batters later gave the Oilers a critical insurance run heading to the ninth.

With former-professional pitcher Tyler Blum (Iowa) on to try to pick up the final three outs, the Miners were able to make things interesting. Jones led the inning off reaching on an error by Wisdom, and Cam Kneeland (Jr./Mass.-Lowell) followed that up by working a walk. After a fielders choice, Tim Zier (Fr./San Diego St.) singled down the third base line, to score Jones to make it a one-run game. After another fielder's choice, the Miners had Ryan Ford (So./Mid. Ten. St.) up as their final hope before he hit into a fielder's choice to shortstop Mike Miller (RS Jr./Cal Poly SLO).

The Miners will look to get back into the win column today, as they'll send southpaw David Gibson (Jr./Bluefield) to the mound. Gibson worked six scoreless innings in his last outing, which came in game one of a doubleheader on Tuesday. The Miners defeated the Fire in the contest, 4-0. Gibson comes into the game with a 3-0 and a 2.30 earned run average. Gibson faced the Oilers back on June 29th. In the game he went five innings, allowed two runs on three hits, while striking out four. Gibson was the winning pitcher in the game.

ABL Standings (W-L-GB)

1. Peninsula Oilers 10-6 --
2. Mat-Su Miners 12-8 --
3. Anchorage Bucs 10-8 1
4. AIA Fire 8-11 3.5
5. Anchorage Pilots 7-14 5.5

Today's Game: Miners (12-8) at Oilers (10-6)

First-pitch: 1:00 p.m. from Coral Seymour Park in Kenai.

Media: Matt Dudas and Michael Broskowski have the call, beginning at 12:50 p.m. with the Mat-Su Miners Pre-Game Show. Fans can listen to the broadcast worldwide on www.matsuminers.org, www.1430hometownradio.com, and www.istreamak.com.

Pre-Game Guest: Matt Dudas will talk with Miners reliever Ben Graff.

Tomorrow: The Miners play game-three of the series at 7:00 p.m. against the Oilers.

-Matt Dudas