The Peninsula Oilers dropped a double-header to the MatSu Miners, 5-2 and 6-0 on July 4. The stands were packed with fans celebrating the holiday.
Each game went only 7 innings, as is the rule with ABL double-headers. The games followed 2 full days of rain-outs. The 5-game series must still play 3 games in the remaining 2 days, but will be fighting a rainy forecast, calling into question the completion of the series.
In both games, the Oilers yielded all the Miner’s runs in one inning and were unable to generate much offense. The bright spot for the Oilers in Game 1 was Brett Grupe, who went 3 for 3 with two singles and a double, and scored both Oiler runs. Ryan Brown took the loss and kept the Miners off the board in 6 of the 7 innings.
Game 2 saw Evan Langer do the same, holding the Miners hitless in the first 3 innings but giving up 6 runs in the 4th inning. The Oilers opened the first inning with a lead off double by Owen McElfatrick, but was left stranded at 3rd base. The Oilers were shut down the rest of the way by a strong performance by Miners pitcher Ace Whitehead, collecting 3 scattered singles.
The two teams are scheduled to play a double-header today at 4:00 and 6:00 pm, weather permitting, and a single game Thursday at 6:00.
