Chinooks fall to Miners in Palmer

Chugiak made its final trip to Palmer of the 2022 Alaska Baseball League season, but Josh Paino and Alex Vergara used big nights at the plate to help the Mat-Su Miners earn a big win over the Chinooks.

Piano and Vergara combined for four extra base hits and nine RBI during a 15-7 win over the Chinooks Monday night at Hermon Brothers Field.

Both Paino and Vergara went deep in the win, which pushed Mat-Su to 24-12 in Alaska Baseball League play. Paino sent a three-run shot over the left field fence to give the Miners a 5-1 lead in the second. Vergara added a three-run bomb in the fourth to give the Miners the 10-1 advantage. Vergara now leads the ABL with six home runs.

Paino finished the night 2 for 4, with four runs and five RBI. Vergara was 2 for 3, with three runs and four RBI. Alex Helmin added three hits, two runs and two RBI. Nick Cirelli chipped in two hits and three RBI.

Andrew Tillery earned the win on the mound, allowing six hits and two earned runs during five innings of work.

The Chinooks did try to jump back into the game with a four-run fifth. Justin Grech, Will Kelley and Austin Young scored on Mat-Su errors. Maddux Ryan crossed the plate after a wild pitch.

Jack Lawrence drove in a pair of runs for the Chinooks. Grech and Ryan Mathiesen had two hits each.

The Chinooks cap their season Saturday at 6 p.m. against the Peninsula Oilers at Lee Jordan Field.