A familiar narrative of the Oilers season was again on display on Monday, as three errors and seven walks proved to be the driving force behind a 6-5 win for the Chinooks at Lee Jordan Field.
Chinooks 6- Oilers 5
The Oilers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the opening frame on a Jaden Fein RBI fielder’s choice with the bases loaded, plating Camden Vasquez against Chinooks starter Trevor McGee.
The Oilers pounced for a pair of runs in the second on a Damon Keith sacrifice fly and a Camden Vasquez RBI single, increasing the Oilers lead 3-0.
The Chinooks, after stranding a couple runners in scoring position in the first (walk, error), scored on a Mason Corbett HBP against Oilers starter Jake Reed after a double and two walks had loaded the bases. The Chinooks scored their second run of the inning on a base on balls, cutting the Oilers lead 3-2 through two innings.
Following a scoreless third, Chugiak took the lead against Reed with two runs fueled by a Daniel Freeman RBI triple and a J Paul Fullerton sacrifice fly, putting the Chinooks up 4-3.
The Oilers tied the game 4-4 in the sixth on a Keith RBI single against Chinooks reliever Joseph Leavitt, which plated Drew Thorpe.
The Chinooks, with nobody on base and two outs in the seventh took advantage of a Travis Bohall fielding error in center field. The Chinooks’ Dylan Gardner reach on the error then proceeded to steal second base, swiped third and scored on a throwing error by Oilers catcher Jonathan Villa, giving Chugiak a 5-4 lead. The go-ahead run produced without a Chinook base hit.
In the top of the eighth, the Oilers, with Vasquez at the plate and Skyler Messinger representing the tying run at third, were robbed of a potential game-tying hit on a diving play in right center field by Chinooks center fielder Jess Davis keeping the score 5-4 Chinooks midway through the eighth.
The Chinooks added to their lead on a Fullerton RBI single, scoring Freeman from first base to give Chugiak a 6-4 advantage going into the ninth.
The Oilers cut the lead in half in the top of the ninth after a Connor McCord RBI single plated Ethan Patrick (lead off double). Freeman came in to pitch and retired three-straight Oilers batters to end the game 6-5.
The win for the Chinooks (6-11) denied the Oilers (7-11) a chance to sweep the three-game series.
Oilers road trip concludes Tuesday against Anchorage Bucs
The Oilers end their eight-game road trip against the Anchorage Bucs at Mulcahy Stadium at 7 p.m.
Oilers return to Coral Seymour Memorial Park on Thursday
The Oilers host their second home stand of the season when the Anchorage Glacier Pilots head to Coral Seymour Memorial Park in the first of a five-game series.
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