Miners win 2 of 3 over the weekend

PALMER - Jason Walker drove in three runs with fifth-inning triple to help the Mat-Su Miners to a 7-5 victory over the Seattle Studs Thursday.

He also had three hits and scored a run Friday as the Miners beat the Oceanside Waves, 6-4.

The Miners finished the weekend Sunday afternoon with a 7-4 loss to Oceanside, an amateur team visiting from California.

The victories Thursday and Friday ended a four-game losing streak for the Miners, who are hosting Athletes in Action tonight at 7 at Hermon Brothers Field. The Miners play their Alaska Baseball League opener Wednesday against the Anchorage Bucs, also at 7 at Hermon Brothers. The Peninsula Oilers, an ABL team from Kenai, will visit Thursday night.

After that, the Miners take off for a road trip to Fairbanks, for games Friday, Saturday and Sunday against the Alaska Gold Panners, and then a pair of games (Monday and June 27) at Mulcahy Field in Anchorage against the Bucs.

Although he is listed on the Miners program roster as a pitcher, Walker has played most of the games in the outfield. His batting average is .440, and his 10 runs batted in lead the team, as do his three extra-base hits (a triple and two doubles).

His three-run triple against the Studs capped a six-run inning and sealed the victory for the Miners. Blake Rutkowski had a double in that game, scored a run and drove in a run. Kris Lammers pitched six innings to get the win, striking out seven, while Luke Steidlmayer pitched the final three innings in relief.

On Friday, Matt Williams drove in a pair of runs to help the Miners beat Oceanside. Catcher Brad Harper hit a solo home run to account for another run, while the final two RBI were tallied by Scott Tousa and Matt Strickroth.

Parker Friske pitched seven innings, allowed just four hits and an earned run to get the win. James Garcia picked up the save.

Sunday against Oceanside, shortstop Jeremy Ison drove in four runs, including three on a triple in the bottom of the eighth inning. His other RBI came on a fielders choice. That was not enough, because Oceansides Josh Stepner matched Isons output with four RBI, including a three-run triple in the top of the eighth.

Walker was on the losing end of that decision, pitching six innings, allowing three runs (two of them earned) and striking out three while walking two. His record dipped to 0-2.