The Peninsula Oilers captured a crucial 6-5 win on Saturday against the Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks at Lee Jordan Field with early Alaska Baseball League implications on the line. The Oilers (6-10) hold a 5-3 series edge against the Chinooks (6-10),with the victory and end a four-game, road losing streak.
Oilers 6- Chinooks 5
The Oilers for only the fourth time this season scored first. Two runs in the top of the first inning on a Jaden Fein RBI double and a Jonathan Villa sacrifice fly against Chinooks starter Michael Barker put the Oilers up midway through one.
The Chinooks responded with a pair of runs against Oilers starter Jake Adams on two walks and a two-run double to tie the game 2-2 through the first inning.
A run for Chugiak in the second was answered by an Oilers run in the third on a Skyler Messinger RBI single to tie the game 3-3.
Following a scoreless fourth inning, the Chinooks scored in the fifth on a wild pitch from Oilers reliever Drew Thorpe, his first earned run allowed (five appearances), giving Chugiak a 4-3 lead.
The Oilers bats erupted for three runs in the sixth to take a 6-4 lead. RBIs from Damon Keith (1B), Fein (HBP) and Connor McCord (fielder’s choice) gave the Oilers a three-run lead heading into the ninth inning.
In the final frame, the Chinooks scored a run to cut the Oilers lead in half with the tying run at third and the potential winning run at second base. Reliever Keith induced a ground out to end the game and end the Oilers four-game losing streak with the 6-5 win.
Notables:
The win puts the Oilers up 5-3 in the season series against the Chinooks in the 11-game series. A win for the Oilers on Sunday can secure the season head-to-head matchup against Chugiak.
The head-to-head series matchups are designed to serve as tie breakers for playoff positioning or playoff qualification at the end of the regular season.
Oilers continue series against Chinooks on Sunday:
The Oilers take on the Chinooks at Lee Jordan Field on Sunday at 2 p.m. in game two of a three-game series.
Follow the Oilers on ESPN 1140 AM and www.radiokenai.com
