Miners recapture ABL lead

July 17, 2007

By Jeremiah Bartz/ Frontiersman

ANCHORAGE - After Joey August popped a pitch foul with a 3-0 count in the top of the ninth inning, the Mat-Su left fielder had a certain look of regret as he stepped back into the batter's box.

But on the next pitch August delivered.

August knocked a shot to the right center field wall to drive in Chris McMurray and spark the Miners' four-run ninth in a 4-0 win over the Athletes in Action Fire at Mulcahy Stadium in Anchorage on Sunday.

Prior to the contest, Mat-Su and AIA stood tied at the top of the Alaska Baseball League standings, but the Miners (16-5 in ABL play) moved a game ahead of the Fire with the win.

Mat-Su and AIA played eight swift scoreless innings before the Miners were able to move four runners across home plate in the ninth.

The comeback is proving to be something typical for the Miners. Mat-Su has won multiple games this season in the final inning.

&#8220We always seem to keep the games real close, and find a way to win at the end,” August said.

After McMurray led off the ninth with a walk, August gave his club the first lead of the game.

&#8220I was just looking for a pitch on the inside so I could try to pull it and get the guy over to third,” August said.

Mat-Su first baseman Ryan Conan followed the August triple with a run-scoring double, and Conan scored on a Ryan Ortiz sacrifice fly. Derek Helenihi doubled and scored on an AIA error late in the inning.

Mat-Su starter Jared Eskew pitched seven scoreless innings, and releiver Steve Kalush got the Miners out of an eighth-inning bases loaded jam to earn the win.

Chris Cullen pitched the ninth to earn his first save of the season.

The Miners start a six-game road trip in Fairbanks tonight against AIA at Growden Park.