The Peninsula Oilers late rally came up short against the Mat-Su Miners on Thursday. Fielding errors and walks highlighted a 3-2 walk-off loss at Hermon Brothers Field.
Miners 3- Oilers 2
On a hot and sunny night in Palmer, both starting pitchers were sharp under the Alaskan sun.
Oilers starter Jake Fenn and Miners starter Kyler Bush had allowed only one base runner through the first three innings.
The Miners struck first in the fourth inning for a pair of runs against Fenn on two hits and two walks, putting Mat-Su up 2-0.
Bush, after allowing a lead-off single to Camden Vasquez in the first inning, shut down the Oilers bats retiring 14 consecutive batters through five innings.
In the sixth, the Oilers tagged Bush for a pair of runs to tie the game 2-2.
A Vasquez RBI single and a Damon Keith RBI double chased Bush and leveled the game at 2-2.
Both teams were scoreless in the seventh and eighth innings, but not without each team getting their chances.
The Miners threatened in the sixth with Oilers reliever Heath Olive on the mound, but runner obstruction called on Miners’ Drew Williamson with the bases loaded and two outs ended the Miners rally with the 2-2 score still intact.
The Oilers in the top of the ninth led off the inning with a Giancarlo Servin single, only for pinch-runner Bobby Goodloe to be left stranded at third base to end the inning.
In the bottom of the inning, a two-base fielded error by Oilers center fielder Damon Keith on a routine fly ball allowed Miners pinch-hitter Sam Thompson, who represented the winning run to reach second base.
Oilers reliever Drew Thorpe walked back-to-back batters, loaded the bases which resulted in an Aaron Walters walk-off single for Mat-Su, winning the game 3-2.
Oilers conclude series with Miners on Friday
The Oilers, (5-9) wrap up their four-game series against the Alaska Baseball League leading Miners, (9-5) on Friday at 7 p.m. at Hermon Brothers Field.
The Oilers continue their eight-game road trip against the Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks on Saturday at Lee Jordan Field, the first of three games against Chugiak. Saturday’s game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Follow the Oilers on ESPN 1140 AM and www.radiokenai.com
