Game 28: Miners at Oilers, 7:00 p.m.

Tonight the Mat-Su Miners conclude a four-game series against the Peninsula Oilers in Kenai. The series thus far has not been kind to the Green and Gold, as they have lost the first three games on the series. The Oilers have now taken control of first-place in the Alaska Baseball League, as they enter tonight leading the Miners and Bucs by two-games each.

Last night, the Miners started quickly. Ryan Ford (So./MTSU) began the game with a lead-off single. Cam Kneeland (Jr./Mass.-Lowell) followed with a double down the right field line, and with that the Miners were in business. However, after an RBI ground-out by Stephen Branca (Jr./Tennessee Wesleyan) the Oilers were able to get out the inning with a strikeout and an infield pop-up.

The Oilers didn't waste much time erasing the early deficit, by getting a double and a single to open their offensive night. Patrick Wisdom (So./St. Mary's) hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game.

An inning later the offense continued. Ryan McChesney (Jr./Florida Tech) broke out of his season-long struggles in a big way, ripping a double off of the right-field fence to score Tanner Rust (Fr./New Mexico St.).

In the third, the Oilers kept on ripping the baseball around the park. Patrick Wisdom took an offering from Miners starter Jeff Gonzales (Fr./Washington) over the left field fence, for a three-run homer. The Oilers took complete control of the game in third. After the Wisdom home-run, they again loaded the bases and chased Gonzales from the ball-game. Brock Simon (Jr./Santa Clara) came on in relief and pitched well, but allowed two inherited runners to come home, as the Oilers would score five times in the inning.

The Miners would rally late, but the deficit was too much to overcome. Tim Zier scored Michael Gerlach on a fielders-choice in the seventh, and in the eighth Adam Martin worked a bases-loaded walk to score Cam Kneeland.

However, Cameron McVey (Jr./Biola) would stop things there, as he retired the games final five batters.

A bright spot for the Miners last night was the play of Kneeland. After struggling for the bulk of the season, Kneeland had three-hits in the game last night. Kneeland batted second last night for the first time all season, and will again hit in the two-hole this season.

Tonight the Miners send their usual closer to the mound to start the ball-game, when they hand the baseball to right-hander Brandon Hedrick. Hedrick, a two-time NAIA All-America selection, will start his first ball-game for the Miners this evening. This season Hedrick has appeared in six games, and brings a 1-0 record, and an earned run average of 1.23 into the game tonight. He also has picked up two saves with the Miners, since joining the team in the middle of June.

Tonight's Lineup

1. Ryan Ford, ss
2. Cam Kneeland, 1b
3. Stephen Branca, 3b
4. Wesley Jones, cf
5. Michael Gerlach, rf
6. Kevin Lum, 2b
7. Nick Rosso, dh
8. Mason Guymon, c
9. Dominick Francia, lf

ABL Standings (W-L-GB)

1. Peninsula Oilers 12-6 --
2. Anchorage Bucs 10-8 2
3. Mat-Su Miners 12-10 2
4. Anchorage Pilots 9-14 5.5
5. AIA Fire 8-13 5.5

Tonight's Game: Miners (12-10) at Oilers (12-6)
First-pitch: 7:00 p.m. from Coral Seymour Park in Kenai.
Media: Matt Dudas and Michael Broskowski have the call, beginning at 6:50 p.m. for the Mat-Su Miners Pre-Game Show. Fans can listen to the broadcast worldwide, on www.matsuminers.org.
Pre-Game Guest: Matt Dudas talks with Miners pitching coach Chris Gordon.
Next up: The Miners return to action Friday night in Anchorage against the Bucs, as part of MLB Showcase Weekend at Mulcahy Stadium.

-Matt Dudas