Miners rally in doubleheader at Glacier Pilots

ANCHORAGE -- Three-straight losses and an early five-run deficit made no difference in the Mat-Su Miners’ 10-run rally to topple the Anchorage Glacier Pilots in the second game of the double-header at Mulcahy Stadium on Wednesday, Jun. 21.

Mat-Su dropped the first leg of the seven-inning double-header 1-0, a game continued from the Saturday, Jun. 10 game called for unsafe playing conditions. Anchorage first baseman Nathan Barraza decided that affair with a solo home run for the contest’s only hit.

Game two started out heading a similar direction. Mat-Su starting pitcher Grant Richardson had been elite to start the season with three starts, two of which were scoreless. The Grand Canyon University product allowed two hits out of the gate including an RBI-triple to second baseman Will Bermudez in his first at-bat in the Alaska Baseball League.

Anchorage left fielder Kan Taguchi reached base later in the inning with two outs after an error at third base. Mat-Su put Maddox Haley at the hot corner for the first time this season after playing either in the outfield or at first base. That gaff brought around the Glacier Pilots’ second run, and Anchorage right fielder Elijah Rodriguez followed with an RBI single to round out the opening frame.

The second inning proved almost as bad for the green and gold: Anchorage third baseman Will Carpenter strung through a fourth run with a base hit up the middle. Barraza then reached on an error at shortstop after that.

The Glacier Pilots hot hitting halted there.

After a pair of dormant frames with no runs for either side, Mat-Su left fielder Braydon Rogers launched a home run on the first pitch of the fifth inning to cut the Anchorage lead to 5-1.

Glacier Pilots 6-foot-7 right-hander Tommy Beam entered the game for the sixth inning, and the Miners made quick work of the West Virginia product. Beam walked three of the four batters he faced, allowing a hit to catcher Steven Lancia, driving in the Miners’ second run.

Righty Joe Inglesias relieved Beam with no outs and the bases loaded and immediately allowed an RBI single to Haley that kept the bags juiced. A wild pitch brought Lancia around to score, cutting the deficit to one. Mat-Su designated hitter Landon Rogers singled home the team’s tying run, and center fielder Sebastian Tomerlin struck into a double-play that brought through the go-ahead marker in Haley.

Shortstop Emilio Barreras pulled through later in the same frame (which he led off) with a two-run triple down the left field line. In the seventh, Landon Rogers strung up his second and third RBIs with a two-out double.

Miners’ closer Will Rizzo capped the day with his third save of the season, this one coming in a two-inning outing. The Nebraska product is now three-for-three in save opportunities, and he still has not allowed a run in five appearances.

The M’s can enjoy a day off before heading out to Chugiak for their fourth battle with the Chinooks on Friday, Jun. 23 for a 6 p.m. first pitch.