Miners explode in win over Glacier Pilots

ANCHORAGE — The Mat-Su Miners have had some questions surrounding their offensive production this season.

On Thursday, the only question was how many runs the Miners were going to push across home plate.

Sparked by three home runs — including two by right fielder Ty Rasmussen — in the seventh inning, the Miners posted a 13-8 come-from-behind win over the Anchorage Glacier Pilots at Mulcahy Stadium in Anchorage.

By sending two shots over the Mulcahy fence, Rasmussen drove in six runs in the seventh. Designated hitter Jordin Hood also homered in the inning, combing with Rasmussen on back-to-back jacks.

Rasmussen, who is accustomed to piling up the RBI in a single outing, started the Mat-Su scoring spree with a two-run home run. Later in the seventh, Rasmussen cleared the bases with the second grand slam in his Alaska Baseball League career.

On opening day in 2007, Rasmussen hit two homers, including a grand slam, and drove in nine during a lopsided nonleague win over Three Rivers.

Mat-Su posted season-highs with 13 runs off 13 hits in the win over Anchorage. Mat-Su collected more hits than the Miners had in their previous three games, and scored more runs than the team had in its last five outings.

Mat-Su scored 14 runs in the six games that led up to Thursday’s win over Anchorage.

Rasmussen led the squad with a season-high four hits in the win. Hood, Kyle Jensen and Blake Newalu each collected a pair of hits in the contest.

John Shaffer drove in three runs in the leadoff spot.

Mat-Su starter Steven Fischback was shelled for four runs in an inning of work. The right-hander walked four and hit another batter in the

inning.

Palmer native Mike Carlson pitched a pair of scoreless innings for the Miners to keep the Pilots close.

Andrew Berger earned the win in relief.

Anchorage also scored four runs in the sixth to take an 8-3 lead, but that was before Mat-Su’s 10-run eruption in the seventh.

Mat-Su tagged Pilot pitchers for 10 runs and five hits in the seventh. Anchorage also committed a pair of errors in the game-deciding inning.

Mat-Su returns home to host the Pilots today at 7 p.m. at Hermon Brothers Field.

Miners sweep Oilers

KENAI — The Mat-Su Miners swept a midweek series against the Peninsula Oilers with a pair of 2-1 wins over the Oilers, Tuesday and Wednesday in Kenai.

Mat-Su scored a pair of runs in the fifth on Wednesday, and improved to 8-2 overall with its second win over Peninsula in as many days.

On Tuesday, Mat-Su first baseman Wes Dorrell hit the first home run in 10 games played at Coral Seymour Memorial Field to push the Miners past Peninsula.

Will Musson pitched the seventh inning to pick up the win in relief of starter Jason Erickson, who gave up one run and three hits in six innings of work. Erickson fanned eight and didn't walk a hitter in the win. Michael Rocha pitched the final two innings to get the save.

The Miners took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third when third baseman Blake Newalu doubled to open the inning, then advanced home on back-to-back sacrifice bunts by shortstop Kevin Rodland and center fielder Pat Minogue.

Peninsula tied the game when catcher Francis Larson scored when a third strike got away from catcher Steve Domecus in the bottom of the fourth.

The game remained deadlocked until the seventh inning, when Dorrell lined the first pitch he saw from Oilers pitcher Bryce Uhrig into the trees behind right field to start the inning.

The Miners face the Anchorage Glacier Pilots Thursday at 7 p.m. at Mulcahy Stadium in Anchorage. The game was originally slated for last Sunday, but was postponed due to rain. Mat-Su returns to the Valley Friday to face the Pilots at 7 p.m. at Hermon Brothers.

Bucs edge Miners

PALMER — Mat-Su's offensive woes continued Monday night as the Anchorage Bucs allowed only two hits in a 2-1 win over the Miners at Hermon Brothers Field.

Anchorage's Matt Apfel scored the go-ahead run in the seventh inning on an Evan Wells sacrifice bunt, and the Bucs handed Mat-Su (6-2) just its second loss of the young Alaska Baseball League season.

The Bucs took the early 1-0 lead with a run in the first, but Mat-Su tied the score in the third when John Shaffer reached home on an Anchorage passed ball.

Mat-Su entered the contest with a team batting average of just .208, but saw that mark dip under the .200-mark after collecting just two hits against the Bucs. Kyle Jensen and Steve Domecus each singled for Mat-Su.

Paul Goldschmidt led Anchorage with a pair of hits.

Santa Clara standout Thain Simon fanned five and walked four as the Mat-Su starter. Jeremy Ruiz was tagged with the loss in relief.

Paul Bargas pitched seven innings of one-hit ball to earn the win for Mat-Su's neighbors to the south.