Game 32: Miners at Pilots, 7:00 p.m.

Tonight the Mat-Su Miners complete their season-series with the Anchorage Glacier Pilots. Over the course of the last two-months, the teams have met twelve times with the Miners taking seven of the games. The Pilots however, have won the last two, including a 5-4 defeat of the Miners last Friday in Anchorage. The Miners come into the game fresh off a win that snapped a six-game losing streak. The month of July has been a tough one on the Miners, as they have fallen out of first place and currently sit in third.

On Monday night, the Miners defeated the Bucs 5-3. A day after winning the State Farm Home-Run Derby, Adam Martin (Fr./Western Carolina) slugged his first home-run of the season. The two-run homer, which was hit to left-center, gave the Miners their first lead of the game.

Late in the game the Miners managed their way through the Bucs batting order, by going to the bullpen in several situational match-ups. Ben Graff (Fr./San Francisco), who picked up his first win of the season in the game, relieved Jeff Gonzales (Fr./Washington). Following Graff, the Miners used Neal Dennison (So./Georgetown) to get two right-handed hitters out. After that, the Miners called on Brendan Lobban (Jr./St. John's) to face two left-handed hitters.

Lobban, who had not pitched in ten days, was making just his second relief appearance of the season. He was able to retire the two hitters he faced, setting up a save situation for Brandon Hedrick (Jr./Union) in the ninth. Hedrick again made things interesting, issuing a walk and allowing a hit, but was able to escape the jam by inducing a fly-out to left-fielder Michael Suiter (HS Sr./Kansas).

The Miners and Pilots last played on Friday in Anchorage, in the third game of the Major League Baseball Showcase. The Miners fell behind early 5-0, as starter Matt Applegate (Jr./Kansas St.) was chased quickly from the ball-game. The Miners battled back however, scoring twice in the sixth and twice more in the seventh, before falling by a run. Wesley Jones (Jr./Milligan) went 3-for-3 in the game, including an RBI-double to right-center field in the final inning.

The Green and Gold will look to make it two-straight when they send left-hander David Gibson (Jr./Bluefield) to the mound. Gibson last pitched on July 10th against the Oilers. The Williamsburg, Virginia-native lasted just three innings, while allowing four runs. Gibson took a no-decision in the game. The lefty brings a 3-1 record and an earned run average of 3.26 into the game. In 30 1/3 innings this season, Gibson has struck out 28 batters.

Following the victory on Monday night, the Miners made two transactions. The club will finish the season without the services of right-hand pitcher Jacob Brewer (Fr./Ball St.) and outfielder Nick Rosso (Fr./St. Mary's).

Alaska Baseball League Standings (W-L-GB)

1. Peninsula Oilers 17-8 --
2. Anchorage Bucs 15-12 3
3. Mat-Su Miners 13-13 4.5
4. Anchorage Pilots 13-17 6.5
5. AIA Fire 10-18 8.5

Tonight's Game: Miners (13-13) at Pilots (13-17)
First-pitch: 7:00 p.m. from Mulcahy Stadium in Anchorage.
Media: Matt Dudas and Michael Broskowski have the call, beginning at 6:50 p.m. with the Mat-Su Miners Pre-Game Show. Fans can listen to the broadcast worldwide on www.matsuminers.org.
Pre-Game Guest: Matt Dudas will talk with Miners manager Brian Yocke.
Next Up: The Miners return home Friday night to take on the AIA Fire at 6:00 p.m.

-Matt Dudas