Mat-Su pitcher throws a gem in win over Pilots

ANCHORAGE — Last week Justin Kraft put together the best pitching performance the Mat-Su Miners have seen this season — a three-hit shutout over nine frames of an extra-innings loss to the Peninsula Oilers.

But on Monday, Kraft found a way to top it.

The Yakima, Wash., native tossed 8 2/3 of shutout baseball, allowed only two hits and led the Mat-Su Miners to a key 1-0 win over the Anchorage Glacier Pilots at Mulcahy Stadium.

“Kraft has been outstanding for us all summer,” Raley said.

Kraft improved to 2-0 with the victory, and lowered his Alaska Baseball League-leading earned run average to 0.75. He leads the team with 36 innings pitched and is third on the squad with 22 strikeouts.

A Geoff Klein single in the second and a Jason Coats double in the eight was all Anchorage could muster against Kraft.

“Justin’s one of those guys, he’s got some deception, he knows how to pitch,” Raley said. “He doesn’t go out there and throw. He goes out there and pitches.”

The Pilots did have four base runners in the game. Kraft hit Josh Meagher with a pitch in the fifth and Daniel Dellasega reached on an error in the top of the ninth.

Kraft also worked quickly, hitting only 82 pitches during the win.

“He had a complete game a couple weeks ago and he pitched into the ninth (Monday night),” Raley said. “That’s pretty impressive for summer ball where we’re watching their pitch count.”

With Kraft working his magic on the mound, infielder Trevor Costin gave the right-hander all the help he needed by using a single to drive in James Ramsey in the seventh.

“Trevor stepped up and really had a good swing on the ball,” Raley said.

Ramsey led off the inning by reaching on an error, and with two outs, Costin singled to left to allow Ramsey to score from second.

The Miners finished with only three singles in the game. Jonathon Johnson and Scott Arthur also had hits for Mat-Su.

Kraft earned the edge in the pitchers dual that also featured a stellar performance from Anchorage starter Ryan Carpenter.

Carpenter pitched 5 2/3 innings of no-hit ball, and didn’t allow a hit until Arthur singled down the right field line with two outs in the sixth.

Anchorage did put together a mini-rally in the bottom of the ninth. Dellasega reached on an error to lead off the inning and Kraft hit Drew Heid to put two men on in the inning. With two outs, reliever Estevan Uriegas came into the game and fanned Gunner Glad to save the game for Mat-Su.

Mat-Su lefty David Stilley followed Kraft’s outing with a solid performance of his own during a 3-2 win over the Anchorage Bucs at Mulcahy on Tuesday.

The Washington State product allowed six hits and one earned run over 6 2/3 innings.

“David pitched outstanding,” Raley said. “He was around the zone. He did a good job.”

Stilley fanned six and walked three.

Newcomer Tyler Johnson pitched a pair of scoreless innings to earn the save.

Ramsey finished 3-for-4 at the plate during the win, and scored a pair of runs to lead Mat-Su.

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