Miners Lose Slugfest to Oilers

After a chaotic sudden death loss the previous night, the Mat-Su Miners came into game #2 of the 5-game series with an unquenchable desire to win. There was no question that this game much like the prior night was going to be an absolute slugfest.

Early on, the game picked up right where the previous game left off, with the pitchers imposing their will on the hapless offenses. Max Sasaski for the Oilers and Ben Detaeye for the Miners each had solid nights starting off. Each pitcher would end the game with 2 strikeouts, but could not limit the teams forever.

In the 3rd Inning, the Miners would rev up the engine and start things off with a Nick Bisaccia Single. Then Drake Kerr and Ryker Schow would each reach 1st base, creating the perfect opportunity for an opening salvo. The Oilers defense cost them the first 2 games back in Palmer and early on in this game it would cost them again as Ryker Schow would score an unearned run on an E6 by Cole Dawson to give them a 1-0 lead. However, as we have learned throughout the season, things can go from 0 to 100 in the blink of an eye for any team.

In the bottom of the 3rd, the Oilers would find something in the well when Andres Mitat would reach 1st base on an error by Ben Detaeye. Then, Kyle McDaniel would manage an RBI Single that would score the unearned run to give the Oilers a tie in the 3rd. Even with the tie secured, Peninsula would not let up that easily.

Things began to deteriorate for Ben Detaeye in the 4th Inning when he gave up back-to-back singles to Ty Thomas and Cole Wilson. That would lead to Andres Mitat reaching first on a rare E6 on Ryan Richard allowing Ty Thomas and Cole Wilson to both come home and give Peninsula an emphatic 3-1 lead. Mat-Su committed 2 costly errors in this inning to allow these runs in the first place. The Miners had to have better execution and fast.

The game remained relatively quiet for the next few innings. Both teams would bring in new pitchers as Jack Hostetler and Cameron Teper would come in for the road and home teams. In the 7th Inning though, after knocking on the door for some time, the Miners finally knocked it down with a Nick Bisaccia single which would set up a Drake Kerr SAC Bunt to drive in Bisaccia to home and bring the game to 3-2. Then the debuting Blake Balsz out of UCLA, making his first start with the Miners, would deliver a signature Left Field Bloop Single to tie the game at 3 runs apiece. Much like Game #1, this game would come down to who delivered in crunch time.

In the bottom of the 8th Inning, the Oilers answered the call. Jack Hostetler had been incredibly solid in 3 Innings of action, but he would lose his iron grip on the game when he would walk Kyle McDaniel, give up a Colin Robson Single, and then would allow McDaniel to score to give the Oilers a dramatic 4-3 lead. Peninsula was now just 3 outs away from back-to-back victories.

The top of the 9th saw Mat-Su give everything they had to bring the game to extra innings. Nick Bisaccia would single and then advanced to 2nd base on a passed ball. Now he just needed one big shot to tie the game at 4 runs. Unfortunately that big shot would never come as the Miners would not manage another hit in the game. Peninsula was able to escape the ballpark with a 4-3 win through toughness, tenacity, and timely hitting.

The Miners are now 4-3 overall in ABL play and have lost back-to-back games to the Oilers, but the good news is that there is still plenty of baseball left to be played on the Peninsula. Mat-Su will have 3 more chances to defeat the Oilers on the road with their next game coming on Thursday night at 6:00 PM. Catch the action on the Miners' YouTube Channel.

Near the ocean, Mat-Su will hope to finally turn the tide.

Dylan Simmons, 2024 Broadcaster
Mat-Su Miners