The Peninsula Oilers topped the Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks, mixing effective starting pitching with timely hitting, winning 8-2 Wednesday at Lee Jordan Field. The win for the Oilers ends a four-game losing streak, and extends their Alaska Baseball League leading record to 12-8. The Chinooks fall to 10-10.
Oilers 8- Chinooks 2
The Chinooks opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning against Oilers starting pitcher Mike Lopez, putting the Chinooks on top 1-0.
The Oilers struck for two runs in the top of the fifth inning after posting four scoreless innings against Chinooks starter Jared Ricklaitis.
Both runs were scored with two outs.
Paul Kunst drew a two-out walk, and was driven in on a Brian Leonhardt RBI single. Leonhardt scored on a Grant Wood RBI single. The Oilers led 2-1 after five innings.
Lopez finished the night tossing five innings, allowing one run on four hits while striking out five, earning his third win of the ABL season.
Oilers relievers Calvin Farris and Andrew Lopez tossed three combined innings, allowing one run on three hits.
The Oilers added a third run in the top of the eighth inning on an Evan Berkey sacrifice fly, which plated Ryan Koch, extending the Oilers lead to 3-1.
The Chinooks scored their second run of the game against Lopez in the bottom of the eighth, closing the gap to a 3-2 Oilers lead.
The Oilers bats came to life in the top of the ninth inning, a total of five runs scored against Chinooks reliever Honus Kindreich, pushed the Oilers to an 8-2 lead.
Oilers reliever Bret Ricklefs tossed a scoreless bottom of the ninth to seal the Oilers 12th win of the season, winning 8-2.
Oilers Continue Road Trip Thursday Against The Mat-Su Miners
The top ranked Oilers duel against the second ranked Mat-Su Miners Thursday at Hermon Brothers Field at 7 p.m. The Miners defeated the Oilers 17-1 on Tuesday, the first game of the Oilers seven-game road trip.
The Oilers return to action against the Chinooks on Friday at Lee Jordan Field at 7 p.m.
The road trip concludes against the Anchorage Bucs, with game one of the three-game series beginning at 5 p.m in game one of a double-header on Saturday. The series finale is Sunday at 2 p.m.
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