Miners use late run to win suspended game

PALMER — For the Mat-Su Miners, it was all about patience.

Kyle Jensen and the Miners had to wait about three days to finish their game against the AIA Fire, so when it came to a bases loaded situation in the bottom of the ninth, Jensen was ready to take a few extra pitches.

Jensen drew a bases loaded walk to push Blake Newalu across the plate in the bottom of the ninth to give the Miners the 3-2 win over the Fire.

The walk-off walk put an end to a game that dates back to Tuesday when the game officials were forced to suspend play in top of the seventh inning due to rain.

The Miners actually came within one out of losing that game on Tuesday. The Alaska Baseball League plays with American Legion rules, Mat-Su general manager Pete Christopher said, and if the visiting team is winning after five innings and the game is called, play won’t be resumed.

But with two outs, and the Miners trailing 2-1, Jensen scored on an AIA to tie the score at 2-2.

“We’re lucky we scored that run,” Christopher said as he was explaining the league rules.

Mat-Su took the early lead in the third inning when Pat Minogue scored on a Jensen double.

Nick Crawford and Brint Hardy scored consecutive runs in the fourth to give AIA the 2-1 lead.

Despite walking six hitters in three innings, Max Peterson earned the win in relief for Mat-Su.

David Rowse started the game on Tuesday, and allowed five hits and two earned runs in five innings.

Palmer native Michael Carlson pitched a perfect inning of relief in the sixth.

Alex Fambrough was tagged with the loss for the Fire.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.