Game 37: Miners vs. Oilers, 6:00 p.m.

Tonight the Mat-Su Miners close out their season series with the Peninsula Oilers. The Oilers have taken the last five match-ups from the Miners, including a 7-5 decision on Sunday night in Palmer. The Miners fell behind in the game 7-1, but battled back. The Miners scored four times in the seventh inning, before leaving the bases loaded in the inning, and leaving them loaded again in the eighth. Reese McGraw (Jr./Creighton) closed the game out for the Oilers, after coming on to pitch in the eighth.

The Miners, while not yet mathematically eliminated, sit four games behind the Oilers with just five games remaining. The second-place Anchorage Bucs remain 3 1/2 games behind the Oilers in the race to become Alaska Baseball League Champions in 2011.

The Oilers have been able to take control of first-place in the month of July, largely in part to their starting pitching. The rotation of Jon Maciel (Fr./Long Beach St.), Gabriel Asakura (Jr./Cal St. LA), Jordan Mills (Fr./St. Mary's), and Ben Griset (Fr./St. Mary's) all hold earned run averages of 3.20 and below, with Mills and Maciel holding marks of 1.00 or below.

To make matters worse for opposing teams, the back end of the Oilers bull-pen has been lights out. Cameron McVey (Jr./Biola), a 22nd round selection by the San Francisco Giants in this years draft, has struck out 12 in 11 2/3 innings. McGraw has an earned run average of under one, and has saved four games for the Oilers.

For the Miners, the offense has certainly turned around of late. After being marred by struggles with the bats for the better part of the season, the Miners have had seven or more hits in each of the last six games. Adam Martin (Fr./Western Carolina) has led the turn around going 9-for-24 during that stretch. Martin, who battled offensive difficulties for the better part of the season, has now raised his batting average above .200 for the season. Wesley Jones (Jr./Milligan) has also been red-hot, going 13 for his last 29 at the dish, and has raised his average to a team best .357 mark.

Tonight, the Miners will look to make it two-straight as they will send David Gibson (Jr./Bluefield) to the mound. Gibson has been one of the teams staff-aces, and brings in a 2.72 earned run average and a record of 3-1. The Williamsburg, Va.-native was impressive in his last start on July 21st, when he went six-scoreless innings against the Glacier Pilots. The left-hander will be looking to avenge a start against the Oilers from July 10th. Gibson lasted just three innings, and took a no-decision after allowing four runs on four hits.

Alaska Baseball League (W-L-GB)

1. Oilers 19-10 --
2. Bucs 16-14 3.5
3. Miners 16-15 4
4. Pilots 16-18 5.5
5. Fire 10-20 9.5

Tonight's Game: Miners (16-15) vs. Oilers (19-10)

First-pitch: 6:00 p.m. from Hermon Brothers Field in Palmer. It is Baseball Card Giveaway Night at the ball-park.

Media: Matt Dudas and Michael Broskowski have the call beginning at 5:50 p.m. with the Mat-Su Miners Pre-Game Show. Fans can listen to the game locally on Q99.7, and worldwide on www.matsuminers.org.

Pre-Game Guest: TBD

Up Next: The Miners begin a four-game series against the Bucs on Thursday in Anchorage.

-Matt Dudas