The Peninsula Oilers, down four runs entering the sixth inning on Friday, mounted a seven-run attack to defeat the Anchorage Bucs 9-6 and record the Oilers first win of the Alaska Baseball League season. The Oilers and Bucs split the first two games of the opening series and both stand at 1-1 in the ABL.
Oilers 9- Bucs 6
The Oilers opened the game with a two-run top of the first. Jaden Fein drove-in a run on a sacrifice fly and a Damon Keith added a RBI single staking the Oilers to a 2-0 lead in the first.
The Bucs scored one run in the bottom of the first inning against Oilers starter Joey Becher, who tossed in his first live-action start since recovering from Tommy John surgery last year. Becher allowed one run on three hits stuck out two and walked one batter in three innings on the mound.
The Bucs pounced on Oilers reliever Brian Merken for four runs in 1/3 of an inning, before Jake Adams came in relief of Merken.
Adams controlled on the mound; the Oilers never looked back.
Bucs starter Brett Finnel was lifted after five innings (with the Bucs leading 6-2) in favor of South Anchorage HS graduate Brody Jessee, and the Oilers pounded-out three runs in the top of the sixth inning and added two runs in the seventh, all credited to Jessee. Bobby Goodloe and Drew Thorpe each drove in a run on sacrifices; Paul Steffensen drove in a run on an RBI double, narrowing the Bucs lead to 6-5.
The Oilers managed their first lead in the seventh inning, jumping on Bucs reliever Aaron Brooks for a pair of runs punctuated by a two-run double by Damon Keith. Two more runs were added on a Giancarlo Servin RBI single and a Thorpe RBI ground out bringing the score to 9-6 Oilers. Keith went 3-4 at the plate with three runs driven in.
Jake Adams recorded his first win of the season after 2.2 innings in relief. Drew Thorpe closed the final three innings, allowing no runs and recording a three inning save.
Oilers vs Pilots Saturday, June 8th
The Oilers continue their five-game road trip with the first of two games against the Anchorage Glacier Pilots on Saturday at Mulcahy Stadium.
Game time scheduled for 7:10 p.m.
The Peninsula Oilers will face the Pilots in a 2 p.m. Sunday afternoon contest on June 9th; then, conclude their road trip against the Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks on Monday, June 10.
Follow the Oilers on ESPN 1140 AM and www.radiokenai.com
Home Opener Set For June 12th
The first home stand of the season for the Peninsula Oilers, a six-game series against the Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks, is scheduled to open Wednesday, June 12th at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai.
Wednesday is KSRM/ESPN Night at the Ballpark with free admission to the ball park.
