Miners score key win in return to Hermon Brothers

PALMER -- There is no place like home.

After an abysmal trip to Fairbanks where they went 1-6, the Mat-Su Miners returned home to the Mat-Su Valley for a series of games back at the friendly confines of Hermon Brothers Field.

In their first contest back, the Miners squeezed out an ever-important 3-2 victory over the Anchorage Bucs.

In a game that did not lack drama, the Miners were able to out-hustle and out-smart the Bucs to gain the pivotal league win.

The Miners out-hustled the Bucs by gaining the game-tying and game-winning runs in the sixth inning on a bunt and a sacrifice fly.

The Miners preserved the victory by outsmarting the Bucs in the ninth inning.

Facing a 3-2 deficit in the ninth inning, the Bucs earned a walk and two singles off Mat-Su reliever Ryan Heil to load the bases.

With the bases jammed and only one out, Heil fired a fastball past Anchorage infielder Mike Thompson to even the count at two balls and two strikes. Following the pitch, Mat-Su catcher Matthew Inouye went out to the mound to talk to Heil.

"The guy on second had the sign," Heil said.

"He saved the game," Heil said of Inouye.

According to Heil and Inouye, Joe Jacobitz, Anchorage's baserunner on second, intercepted the Mat-Su sign. Rather than risking the run, Heil and Inouye decided to throw the Bucs a true curveball.

"He gave me the sing for the fastball and I through the curve," Heil said.

Heil delivered the curve and Thompson, expecting a fastball, rolled a ground ball to second base and Mat-Su infielder Joey Hooft was able to start the 4-6-3 double play.

Hooft fielded the grounder, tossed it to shortstop Mike Kelly and Kelly fired the ball to first baseman Jase Turner, who stretched out to complete the double play.

"The guy on second had the pitch," Inouye said. "I didn't want to give up a big hit. I didn't want that to replay in my mind."

Heil recorded his first save of the season in the contest.

Heil's performance not only gave the Miners an important victory, but it may have established Heil as another go-to guy for the Miners in the late innings on the mound.

Kelly is the Miners' regular closer, but Mat-Su manager Kevin Edwards was unable to move the versatile player from his infield position to the mound. The only other regular shortstop for the Miners, Josh Mader, is currently out with a groin pull.

Heil has already established himself as an important part of the Miner bullpen.

Heil has stuck out 19 hitters in 17 innings. His 1.04 earned run average is the best on the squad.

The Miners took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning on a Matt Young RBI. Young singled to left to drive in Jed Lowrie.

Anchorage took a 2-1 lead in the fifth after a Brian Cleveland triple and Nick Crowe single.

In the sixth inning with Kelly on third base, Inouye laid a bunt down on the left side of the infield. Inouye beat the errant Anchorage throw and Kelly scored to tie the game at 2-2.

Hooft advanced to third on the bunt.

The University of Miami prospect scored to break the tie on a Ryan Beglin sacrifice fly to deep center field.

Koley Kolberg pitched six solid innings to earn the win. Kolberg struck out five and allowed just three hits, two walks and two earned runs.

The win snapped a six-game Mat-Su losing streak.

"This is real big for us," Inouye said. "We were getting sick of Fairbanks. We were living in those trailers, it didn't feel like home."

"You try so hard to put it all behind and get that winning feeling," Edwards said.

Miners 8, Oilers 2

The Miners continued the dominance over the Peninsula Oilers with an 8-2 win over the Kenai club at Hermon Brothers Field on Friday.

Jeff Butts led the Miners going 2-for-4 with four RBIs.

Butts notched a bases clearing double in the second inning and solo home run in the seventh.

Anthony Isabella went 3-for-4. It was Isabella's second game in a Miner uniform.

Hooft, Kelly, Young and Beglin also recorded hits.

David Johnson scattered three hits over five innings.