Game 39: Miners vs. Bucs, 6:00 p.m.

Tonight, the Mat-Su Miners look to win their fourth straight, when they play host to the Anchorage Bucs. The Miners last night defeated the Bucs, 2-1. Ben Graff (Fr./San Francisco), who made his first start of the ABL season, fired seven scoreless innings on way to picking up his second win of the summer. The Bucs were able to push across a run in the ninth inning, but Brendan Lobban (Jr./St. John's) was still able to pick up his first save of the season.

The Alaska Baseball League season is in to it's homestretch in 2011. The Oilers currently sit in first place, and still have four games remaining. Two of those games will take place this afternoon in Kenai, with the Oilers taking on the AIA Fire in a doubleheader. The Oilers magic number is down to one after last night's 9-3 victory over the Fire.

The ABL championship race is down to just the Miners and the Oilers. With last night's Miners victory, the  Bucs are eliminated from the race. The Miners and Bucs meet three more times, to close the 2011 regular season.

Alaska Baseball League (W-L-GB)

1. Oilers 20-12 --
2. Miners 18-15 2.5
3. Pilots 17-18 4.5
4. Bucs 16-17 4.5
5. Fire 12-21 8.5

Tonight the Miners send lefty Mark Anderson (So./BYU) to the mound against the Bucs. Anderson comes into the game with a 1.80 earned run average, giving him one of the best in the ABL. Anderson leads the Miners in wins, and brings a 4-1 record into tonight's contest. The Moreno Valley, Cal.-native last worked on Tuesday, allowing a ninth inning run against the Oilers. The left-hander's last start came on Saturday against the Bucs, when Anderson hurled six scoreless innings. In 11 innings this season against the Bucs, Anderson has allowed no runs on six hits. 

Tonight's Game: Miners (18-15) vs. Bucs (16-17)

First-pitch: 6:00 p.m. from Hermon Brothers Field in Palmer. It's NAPA Alaska Day at the ball-park. NAPA is the official sponsor of Mat-Su Miners Internet Broadcasts.

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

Next-Up: The Miners visit the Bucs, tomorrow at 7:00 p.m.

-Matt Dudas