Mat-Su walks Itself back into the loss column against Peninsula

PALMER -- Electricity from a game-tying swipe of home rapidly sank with enough walks to send the Mat-Su Miners home with a 9-2 loss to the Peninsula Oilers.

M’s fans enjoyed five strong innings from right-hander Brandon Downer to begin Sunday’s affair, allowing two runs on three hits, with a strikeout.

The most-used reliever in the league righty Vinny Bianchi followed him up with a pair of frames and just one hit.

Even the bats seemed up to the task, striking a pair of runners over home in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game. Those tallies came across after shortstop Emilio Barreras strung catcher Steven Lancia home from third base and designated hitter Landon Rogers rushed through to tie the game at 2-2 on a wild pitch.

The spirits and the crowd noise were high at Hermon Brothers Field until they weren’t.

Immediately, the action went south for the home crew. Right-handed reliever Will Rizzo entered for the top of the eighth inning, and with two away, he hit a batter with a pitch and put the ensuing four batters aboard with a series of full count walks. That had the Oilers up ahead 5-2.

Lefty Mario Bejarano relieved the high speed spitfire with another walk, also allowing a two-run single to Kenai first baseman Theo Forshey. By the end of the eighth, Rizzo had allowed six earned runs and the Oilers led 8-2.

Eventually that score ballooned into a 9-2 Oilers win.

Mat-Su enjoyed solid hitting displays from right fielder Kaden Carpenter and Rogers.

Carpenter finished with a 3-for-4 line, notching his third multi-knock game in the last eight contests, and extending his on-base streak to 20 tilts.

Rogers rattled off a 2-for-3 showing with a double and a run scored. The Santa Fe Community College product has recorded hits in six of his last eight games.