Glacier Pilots double up Mat-Su

ANCHORAGE - The Anchorage Glacier Pilots used a crop of seventh-inning doubles Wednesday to double-up the Mat-Su Miners 6-3 at Mulchahy Stadium in Anchorage.

Anchorage's John Ray, Wilberto Ortiz, John Allman and Ben Lasater each doubled during a four-run seventh as the Glacier Pilots (6-1) gave themselves nearly a three-game lead at the top of the Alaska Baseball League standings.

The Pilots cruised to their 11th win of the season, scoring four runs off seven hits against the Mat-Su bullpen.

After Anchorage chased Mat-Su starter Craig Bennigson in the fifth, the Pilots scored a pair of runs off two Mat-Su relievers - Greg Keim and Tim Smith.

&#8220It's unfortunate. Our pitching staff has carried us this far,” Mat-Su manager Matt Dorey said. &#8220Sometimes they come in and don't execute as well as they can. It happens in baseball. It doesn't mean we're going to give up on them. They're just going to come back tomorrow and try to respond.

&#8220I don't expect this from our bullpen,” Dorey added. &#8220It's uncharacteristic.”

Ray posted the first of four Anchorage doubles in the top of the seventh, putting a Bennigson pitch right down the left field line. Ortiz followed with a double to left field. The hit allowed Ray to cross home plate, and Anchorage to tie the score at 3-3.

Chase Williams gave the Pilots a lead with a run-scoring double off Smith. Lasater cleared the bases with a two-run double off Brian Chrisman late in the inning.

&#8220They're a good club. They can swing the bats,” Dorey said.” There's a reason why they're at the top of the league right now.”

Ray temporarily gave the Pilots a 2-1 lead early with a two-run homer.

Anchorage scored its second win in as many days over the Miners (9-5, 4-4) at Mulchahy.

The Pilots flew to a 5-2 win over Mat-Su on Tuesday.

Dorey said the league-leading Pilots are probably the best team his Miners have seen this season.

&#8220It's hard for me not to say (that),” Dorey said.” They beat us two in a row.”

Mat-Su catcher Brent Milleville gave the Miners a 3-2 lead in the sixth. The Stanford product punched a single into center field to score outfielder Donald Brown and first baseman Daniel Magness.

Milleville had been hitting just .212 prior to the game. But by going 3-of-4 at the plate, Milleville saw his average balloon to .270.

Daniel Magness, now hitting .362, had a pair of hits in the game.

Bennigson, the ABL leader in saves with five, earned his first start of the season. Dorey said its not just a spot start, but an attempt to bring the talented lefty into the rotation.

&#8220We wanted another get another left-handed presence as a starter,” Dorey said.

The Mat-Su head coach said the staff has envisioned Mark Willinski, a Santa Clara freshman, as more of a closer. But Bennigson, a part-time starter during his first year at California-Berkley, filled the role until Willinksi arrived in the Valley. Though Bennigson was successful late in the games for Mat-Su - he had an earned run average under 1.00 prior to his start - the coaching staff had to find a way to get each pitcher more innings.

&#8220We felt we had two guys who weren't pitching as much as they could,” Dorey said. &#8220Craig was pitching maybe five innings a week as opposed to maybe 11. We just wanted to get one of our better arms more opportunities.”

Pilots 5, Miners 2

Anchorage scored three times in the sixth and five unanswered runs in a 5-2 win over the Miners on Tuesday.

Matt McGraw posted a two-run single in the inning, and Ortiz scored on a past ball.

Anchorage reliever Michael Alldredge earned the win, while Mat-Su starter David Gruener was tagged with the loss. Gruener allowed walked two and allowed two hits in just more than five innings.

Joe Ercolano and Joey August each scored runs for Mat-Su.

August and Paul Gran led the team with two hits each.

Mat-Su took the 1-0 lead in the third when Ercolano scored on a Magness sacrifice fly.

August gave the Miners a 2-0 lead, scoring on a wild pitch in the fourth.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com