FLYING AWAY

PALMER — There was a pitcher’s duel for six innings, and then things got away from the Mat-Su Miners.

The Anchorage Glaicer Pilots scored six runs over the final three innings to club the Miners 7-0 at Hermon Brothers Field on Thursday.

Anchorage squeezed out a pair of runs in the seventh and tacked on four more in the ninth inning to help grab its first win of the season in Alaska Baseball League play.

The Pilots put up a four-spot in the ninth, but the crippling run came late in the seventh.

With a pair of runners in scoring position and a 1-0 lead, Kevin Hall laid down a bunt with one out. Adam Landecker scored from third on the squeeze as Mat-Su pitcher Brock Simon fielded the bunt and made the throw to first. But Troy Nielsen also scored, hustling around from second base to give the Pilots the 3-0 lead.

“That was definitely a tough luck moment, but well-executed by them,” Mat-Su head coach Brian Yocke said. “With only one run, we feel like we’re one hit away, or one mistake away. But 3-0 becomes a little bit tough. It was definitely a big point in the game.”

It also came after Mat-Su starter David Gibson battled with his counterpart, Anchorage’s Andy Grunewald, for six innings.

Gibson allowed two hits and a run over six. Grunewald was not quite that sharp, but good enough to keep the Miners off the scoreboard — allowing five hits and no runs over 6 2/3. He walked four hitters.

“Both lefties did a good job of getting guys out,” Yocke said.

Gibson dropped to 1-1 on the summer, despite fanning eight hitters.

“He did a great job of competing his butt off,” Yocke said of Gibson. “He got us through six innings with only one (Anchorage) run.”

Gibson also helped the Miners avoid disaster in the sixth. Gibson hit a batter and walked another to load the bases, but caught Aaron Judge looking to get the strike out and end the inning.

Judge gave the Pilots the 1-0 lead in the fifth inning, scoring on a wild pitch. Judge stole third base — just barely beating the throw to third — to set up his chance to score.

The Miners outhit the Pilots in the loss, collecting eight hits to Anchorage’s seven, but couldn’t string much together.

Dominick Francia and Stephen Branca continued their hot summers at the plate, recording a pair of hits each.

Kevin Lum doubled in the loss.

The league-leading Miners (5-3) host Anchorage again tonight at 7 p.m. at Hermon Brothers Field.

Miners 4, Pilots 0

PALMER — Steven Bruce has been just about flawless during his time on the mound with the Mat-Su Miners.

Bruce, making his second start and third appearance with the club, pitched seven scoreless innings to lead Mat-Su to a 4-0 win over the Anchorage Glacier Pilots on Tuesday.

“He did a fantastic job,” Yocke said.

Bruce allowed five hits and only walked one hitter during the win. He also fanned eight Pilots.

“He got through the first time through the lineup without really throwing any breaking balls, then he was able to show it the second time around.”

Bruce kept his team-leading earned run average at 0.00 with the win.

With Bruce sharp on the mound, Tim Zier, Cam Kneeland and Ryan Ford sparked the offense with three hits each.

Jaycob Brugman had a pair of hits for Mat-Su.

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