The Peninsula Oilers notched their first Alaska Baseball League victory with a 4-3 win over the Mat-Su Miners on Saturday at Coral Seymour Memorial Park.
Infielder John Thomas scored the winning run in the eighth inning, breaking a 3-3 tie with maybe the strangest solo home run in Oilers history. Thomas’ home run drove the Miners left fielder Quin Cotton to the warning track; the ball bounced off of Cotton’s head and over the left field wall for the game-winning run.
Starting pitcher Raymond Kerr pitched six innings, allowing one run and striking out six batters. Caleb Hicks recorded the save, pitching the ninth and inducing a ground ball, double play to end the game.
The Oilers scored two runs in the second inning for a 2-0 lead; the Miners tied the game with a two-run homer run in the seventh inning.
The Peninsula Oilers stand at 1-1 in the ABL and Mat-Su drops to 3-1, the Miners remain in first place in the ABL early season.
Sunday’s doubleheader between the Oilers and the Miners is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at Coral Seymour Memorial Park. Free admission and a hot dog courtesy to Birch Ridge Church.
- Coverage on the game will move to KSRM 920AM and www.radiokenai.com for Sunday only.
