Another tough loss for Miners

PALMER — The tough luck continues for the Mat-Su Miners.

After building a 5-0 lead Thursday, the Miners watched as the Anchorage Glacier Pilots put together eight runs during the final three innings en route to an 8-7 victory over Mat-Su at Mulcahy Stadium in Anchorage.

Kavin Keyes gave the Pilots the walk-off win with a two-run single in the bottom of the ninth. David Legg scored from third base to tie the game at 7. Brady Hohl hustled around from second to give the Pilots the 8-7 win.

Anchorage, which headed into the final half-inning down by two runs, scored three in the ninth to score the victory. Aaron Judge also posted an RBI single in the final frame.

Kevin Lum and Adam Martin each drove in a pair of runs to help the Miners stake an early lead. Both finished 2 for 5 at the plate. Michael Gerlach and Tim Zier collected three hits each for the Miners, who had 13 hits in the game.

Mat-Su starter David Gibson pitched six scoreless innings, allowing four hits. But the Pilots got to the Mat-Su bullpen, scoring all eight of their runs off a pair of Mat-Su relievers.

Zier singled and scored on a Ryan Ford single to give the Miners the 1-0 lead in the third. Mat-Su added another run in the following inning when Wesley Jones reached on an Anchorage error and later scored on another Glacier Pilots error.

Lum doubled down the left field line in the sixth to put another run on the scoreboard for the Miners.

Mat-Su padded its lead in the seventh, with Martin’s two-run single.

Lum and Cam Kneeland both drove in runs late in the game.

Hohl and Cael Brockmeyer combined for seven of Anchorage’s 13 hits in the game. Hohl finished 4 for 5 with two runs scored. Brockmeyer collected three hits and scored a run.

Keyes drove in five runs for Anchorage, and catcher Maxx Garrett homered in the win.

The Miners return home to host the Athletes in Action Fire tonight at 6 p.m. at Hermon Brothers Field. It marks the start of a five-game homestand.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/matsu_sports.