Miners club Panners

PALMER — The Mat-Su Miners got their first look at the Alaska Goldpanners Saturday night. With a quick lead, the Miners spent most of the night looking at the Panners through the rearview mirror.

Sparked by three first-inning runs, Mat-Su rolled to a 9-1 win over the Panners at Hermon Brothers Field.

Starter Eli Morgan pitched six solid innings, and five different Miners had at least two hits as Mat-Su improved to an Alaska Baseball League-best 15-4.

Morgan scattered eight hits and one earned run over six innings. The run allowed was the first in four starts this summer. The Gonzaga product also fanned five. Zebastian Valenzuela pitched three scoreless innings in the victory.

Miners designated hitter Matt Diorio led Mat-Su with three hits and three RBI in the victory. Brick Paskiewicz, Vance Vizcaino, Tanner Nishioka and Chris Hall finished with two hits each.

Paskiewicz, Tyler Wolfe and Vizcaino (the top three hitters in the Mat-Su lineup) each scored twice.

Mat-Su struck early in the win. The first four hitters reached base during the bottom of the first. Paskiewicz led off with a single, Wolfe drew a walk and Paskiewicz scored on a Vizcaino single. Diorio followed with a double that drove in two runs.

The Miners added two runs in the second. Vizcaino drew a walk with the bases loaded and Diorio singled to drive in another run and push Mat-Su’s lead to 5-0. The Miners added runs in the third, fifth and sixth innings.

Saturday’s contest marked the start of a five-game homestand. The Miners host the Anchorage Bucs Sunday at 4 p.m. and Monday at 7 p.m. The Panners return to Hermon Brothers Tuesday at 7 p.m. The Anchorage Glacier Pilots hit Hermon Brothers Wednesday at 7.