Game 31: Miners vs. Bucs, 6:00 p.m.

Tonight the Mat-Su Miners will look to end a six-game losing streak, when the meet the Anchorage Bucs. The streak began back on July 9th in Kenai, when the Miners dropped a 3-2 decision. During the streak the Miners have dropped four of the games by one run, including Saturday night when the Miners fell to the Bucs 2-1 in extra innings. After sitting atop the ABL Standings to begin the month of July, the Miners have since gone 3-11. The Green and Gold enter the game tonight in third place.

Tonight will be the third meeting of the season for the Miners and Bucs. Down the stretch of the season the teams will certainly get familiar with each other, as the Miners play eighth out of their final twelve games against the Black and Yellow. In the first meeting back in June, the Miners beat the Bucs 6-0 behind five scoreless innings from lefty Mark Anderson (So./BYU). On Saturday, the Bucs came from behind to beat the Miners in extra innings. Matthew Harjung (So./Missouri Baptist) hit a ball down the left field line that scored Jake Valdez (Fr./San Jose St.) to give the Bucs their second win of the day. Earlier in the day the Bucs had beaten the AIA Fire.

Tonight the Miners send righty Jeff Gonzales (Fr./Washington) to the mound to attempt to end the losing streak. Gonzales had been solid for the Miners all season before being roughed up in his last outing against the Oilers, which came a week ago tonight. Gonzales allowed seven runs in just 2 1/3 innings pitched. Gonzales, who has yet to face the Bucs this season, brings a record of 0-2 and an earned run average of 4.34 into the contest.

Alaska Baseball League Standings (W-L-GB)

1. Peninsula Oilers 15-7 --
2. Anchorage Bucs 13-11 3
3. Mat-Su Miners 12-13 4.5
4. Anchorage Pilots 12-15 5.5
5. AIA Fire 10-16 7

Tonight's Game: Miners (12-13) vs. Bucs (13-11)
First-pitch: 6:00 p.m. from Hermon Brothers Field in Palmer. It is Mat-Su Regional Medical Center Day at the Park.
Media: Matt Dudas and Michael Broskowski call the action beginning at 5:50 p.m. with the Mat-Su Miners Pre-Game Show. Fans can listen to the broadcast locally on Q99.7 and worldwide on www.matsuminers.org.
Pre-Game Guest: Michael Broskowski talks with State Farm Home-Run Derby Winner Adam Martin (Fr./Western Carolina).
Next Up: The Miners are off Tuesday and Wednesday before playing the Pilots on Thursday night in Anchorage.

-Matt Dudas