Miners sink Bucs, end losing streak



The Miners looked to get off the snide on Monday night hosting the Anchorage Bucs at Hermon Brothers Field. They would need another solid start from starter Jeff Gonzales (FR/Washington) and an offense that has struggled as of late to produce. The Miners got the combination just right in their 5-3 win over the Anchorage Bucs on Monday night.

Gonzales worked 5.2 innings striking out seven, allowing just two earned runs on five hits, walking four earning a no decision. Gonzales started out the ball game retiring the first nine hitters he faced.Gonzales ran into trouble in the top of the fourth inning walking the lead off hitter Landon Anderson (JR/Dallas Baptist). Ryan Palermo (SO/UC-Santa Barbara) advanced Anderson to second with a sacrifice bunt. After a fly out by Boomer Collins (JR/Dallas Baptist), Ryan Palermo (SO/UC Santa Barbara) drew a two out walk. Jake Valdez would step to the plate. After falling behind 0-2 Valdez would line a single into right center to score Anderson from second to give the bucs a 1-0 lead. The next batter Logan Davis (FR/Hofstra) would single up the middle scoring Palermo to extend the Bucs lead to 2-0.

The Miners answered in the bottom of the fifth inning when Kevin Lum (JR/Oklahoma State) doubled to the wall in left center to lead of the inning. After a Tim Zier (FR/San Diego State) infield single, Zier stole second, Lum made a break for home plate while the throw from second baseman Valdez was sent to the back stop. With Zier on third with one out Michael Suiter (SR/Punahou High School) grounded a single up the middle into center field to tie the ballgame at two a piece.

The Bucs would come back to take the lead in the top of the sixth when Brian Santy (JR/Washington) doubled to right field to score Valdez and make it 3-2 Bucs. It wouldn't take the Miners long to answer however. Fresh off of winning the 2011 Alaska Baseball league Home Run Derby, would belt a two run home run over the right center field wall to give the Miners a 4-3 lead. The Miners would add an insurance run in the seventh and hang on to win 5-3.

Ben Graff picked up his first win working a scoreless inning. Graff improved his record to (1-2), while the loss goes to Bucs starter Bradley Drust (SO/Southern Illinois)who falls to (0-5). Brandon Hedrick (JR/Union) picked up his third save of the season.

Adam Martin went 2 for 4 with a run scored and 2 runs batted in, while teammate Cam Kneeland (JR/UMASS Lowell) had a successful night going 2 for 4 with a run scored.

The Miners will have two days off before returning to action on Thursday in Anchorage against the Glacier Pilots at Mulcahy Field. Game time is 7:00pm pregame show will begin at 6:50pm on Matsuminers.org