Miners out-slug Chinooks

PALMER — The Mat-Su Miners are again streaking in the right direction.

After starting the Alaska Baseball League season with three straight wins, the Miners dropped a pair of game before rebounding with another three consecutive wins. The latest came courtesy of a strong seventh-inning rally to top the Chugiak Chinooks 9-6 Saturday at Hermon Brothers Field.

After the Miners jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning, the Chinooks tied the score in the top of the second, then took a 3-2 lead in the third. But in the bottom of the inning, the Miners rallied again with another pair of runs to take a 4-3 lead.

But Chugiak would answer in the fourth, tying the score at 4, while the Miners see-sawed again to retake the lead 5-4 in the bottom of the fourth. Another two runs in the top of the fifth gave Chugiak a 6-4 advantage, which the Chinooks held for 1 ½ innings.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Miners rallied again, posting four runs.

Christin Steward led the Miners at the plate, hitting 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI. Shortstop AJ Simcox hit 1-for-3 with 3 RBI, but made his hit count. With two outs in the seventh, Simcox smacked a single to plate Patrick McGrath and Spencer Mahoney to close out the scoring for the Miners.

The Miners close out a stretch of eight games in seven days today, hosting the Anchorage Bucs for a doubleheader at Hermon Brothers Field. First pitch for game one is 2 p.m., with the nightcap kicking off at 7 p.m. After an off day Monday, the Miners resume at home Tuesday for Military Appreciation Day, sponsored by the Frontiersman, hosting the Chinooks again at 7 p.m.

Contact Greg Johnson at 352-2269 or greg.johnson@frontiersman.com.