The Oilers played an unusual double-header in Palmer, winning a sudden-death victory as home team in a 0-0 tie in Game 1, then continuing its lack of run production in a 3-0 loss as visitors in Game 2.
For the second time this season, the Oilers played a game under the extra-inning rule. The home team may opt to play “Offense” or “Defense”. Because the Oilers were home team due to a rain-out in Kenai earlier this month, they had the home team option. As happened in an earlier game this season when the Oilers failed to bring home the winning run from 3rd base in regulation extra-innings, the Oilers opted for “Defense” and kept the Miner runner stranded at 2nd base when the 3rd out was recorded.
Pitching was brilliant by both teams. The Miners’ Drew Christo went 7 full innings, gave up just 4 hits, walked none and struck out 10 Oilers. Arnad Mulemakic went 5 innings, allowed only 2 hits, struck out 4 and walked 2, but left the game to Mose Hayes, who was equally effective with 4 K’s and 2 hits in 4 innings of work.
The Miners, forced to play “Offense”, were awarded an automatic runner on first to begin the sudden-death frame. With one out, Sebastian Tomerlin was awarded 1st base through catcher interference, placing the winning run into scoring position at 2nd, but two pop outs ended the game with an Oiler victory for Mose Hayes.
In the 2nd game the Miners got all the run production any team needed in the 2 games with a first inning home run by Alex Vergara off Oiler starter Ryne Palmer. They added 2 more runs in the 5th before Sam Silversmith completed the game for the Oilers with a perfect inning of relief in the 6th.
The Oilers collected four scattered singles in both games.
The next Oiler game will be in Kenai on Thursday at 6 pm against the Anchorage Glacier Pilots. Games will be heard on ESPN 1140 AM, 96.9 FM and at www.radiokenai.com. Bob Bird and Nick Costello will be at the mic.
