No easy outs

PALMER — At 6-foot and about 220 pounds, Jonathon Cisneros is the type of player fans expect to see in the clean-up spot. But during the second inning Thursday, it looked like Cisneros was hitting leadoff.

The San Antonio, Texas, native legged out a double to open the inning, stole third and raced home on a Scott Arthur fielder’s choice to spark Mat-Su’s three-run second inning and lead the Miners to a 5-1 win over the Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks Thursday at Hermon Brothers Field in Palmer.

“He got moving around there pretty good,” Mat-Su head coach Russell Raley said after the win, the Miners’ first of the season.

Cisneros, Mat-Su’s left-handed first baseman, knocked an opposite-field shot down the left field line to start the bottom half of the second. After designated hitter Will Musson drew a walk, Cisneros hustled down to third for the stolen base as Arthur squared up for the bunt.

“ Head’s up play I guess,” said Cisneros, who finished his junior campaign at St. Mary’s 0-for-2 in the stolen bases category. “The coaches told us to look for it and really emphasize getting that extra base, running hard and being aware. You’ve got to credit the coaches to instill that into us.”

Cisneros, who was among team leaders with a .363 batting average, 20 doubles and 44 RBI as a junior, admitted it was probably his first stolen base since high school.

“I surprised myself a little bit,” Cisneros said.

With runners at the corners, Arthur swung away and put the ball into play, allowing Cisneros to score the first run of the game.

Left fielder David Alleman was hit by a pitch and second baseman Chad Marshall drew a walk to load the bases for the Miners. And with the bases packed, center fielder Nick Cox — Mat-Su’s actual leadoff hitter — showed his speed, legging out an infield single to drive in another run.

Shortstop Blake Newalu reached on an error to push Marshall across home plate and give the Miners the 3-0 advantage.

Mat-Su starter David Stilley pitched a strong seven innings to earn the win.

“David Stilley pitched a great game today,” Cisneros said.

The Washington State product allowed just three hits and two walks, while striking out eight.

“He really pumped the strike zone, and we made some plays behind him,” Raley said. “I thought he did a nice job. I really thought he got ahead of guys. Pounding the strike zone, that’s all you can ask him to do.”

His only blemish came in the fourth when Evan Simonitsch scored for the Goldpanners on a wild pitch.

Mat-Su added to its lead in the fourth, cashing in on another bases loaded situation.

Alleman singled, catcher Nick Croce walked and Marshall was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Alleman scored on a David Colvin wild pitch to give Mat-Su the 4-1 lead.

Mat-Su took a 5-1 lead in the bottom of the seventh when Will Musson scored from first on a Jordan LeGros error. With Musson, who singled to right earlier in the inning, on first, Arthur sent a sharp, two-out ground ball to third on what probably should have been an inning-ending play. But the LeGros throw shot past Alaska first baseman Derek Grieve, and Musson was able to hustle around the bases to score the run.

While Mat-Su got a strong start from Stilley, the relievers were as effective. Texas A&M freshman Estevan Uriegas struck out three straight after walking the leadoff man in the eighth.

Ryan Cole retired three of the four Goldpanners he faced to cap the game in the ninth.

Mat-Su (1-1) takes a break from ABL play to host the Michigan Monarchs tonight at 7 p.m. at Hermon Brothers Field. Former Palmer High School standout Mike Carlson will make the start for the Miners.

Jeremiah Bartz is the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor. Contact him at sports@frontiersman.com.