Miners continue winning streak against Bucs

PALMER — Through most of June the Mat-Su Miners couldn’t buy a win against the Anchorage Bucs. But in the last month, Mat-Su has owned its Anchorage foe.

After starting the season 0-5 against the Bucs, Mat-Su has won seven straight against Anchorage. Saturday, Elijah MacNamee hit a two-run homer and five Mat-Su pitchers combined to allow only four hits during Mat-Su’s 4-2 victory over the Bucs at Hermon Brothers Field in Palmer.

Jake Suddreth pitched three innings of relief and earned the win on the mound for the Miners, who improved to 28-14 in Alaska Baseball League play. Mat-Su, which clinched the regular-season title and home-field advantage throughout the ABL playoffs earlier in the week, are now six games ahead of second-place Anchorage (22-20).

Suddreth allowed just a hit and fanned three. Josh Green worked the ninth to earn his seventh save of the summer.

MacNamee provided the go-ahead runs in the fifth. With the score tied at 2, the Mississippi State product sent a shot over the left field wall. Nick Brooks scored on the play, MacNamee’s second home run in four days.

Andy Thomas also hit a solo home run in the first. Brooks finished with two of Mat-Su’s eight hits. Mike Antico also had a hit and run scored.

Mat-Su closes the regular season with a pair against the Anchorage Glaicer Pilots Tuesday at 3 p.m.

ABL announces playoff format

The four-team ABL playoffs begin Wednesday. Mat-Su will host one semifinal series, a best-of-3 set, slated to start Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Hermon Brothers Field. The Miners will host the No. 4 seed, which has not been determined as of Friday night. Game 2 of the series is Thursday at 2 p.m. A third game, if necessary, would start 40 minutes following the conclusion of the second game.

The ABL Top of the World Series championship set starts Friday at 6 p.m. at the home field of the top seeded team remaining in the postseason. Game 2 is Saturday at 2 p.m. A third game, if needed, would start 40 minutes following the conclusion of the second game.

Mat-Su is the defending ABL champion.