Rain prevents a potential Mat-Su comeback; Miners fall 5-3

PALMER – The Miners had their chances, but couldn’t take advantage of them in Tuesday’s truncated contest against the Chinooks.

It was on-and-off ran throughout the game at Hermon Brothers Field, until after the 7th inning the pitching mound was determined to not be safe enough to pitch on.

In the 2nd inning, the score tied at one run each, Mat-Su had runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out following center fielder Sebastian Tomerlin’s sac bunt. Unfortunately, third baseman Alex Thurston struck out looking and Emilio Barreras grounded out to short to end the inning.

A similar story happened in the bottom of the 6th. Second baseman Nolan Tucker worked his second walk of the game, and two batters later Tomerlin singled. Tucker, who had previously stolen second base, reached third on the single.

So with two on and one out, Thurston came up to bat. But he struck out swinging. Then Barreras also struck out swinging to end the inning. The score remained 3-3.

And finally in the 7th, with the Miners trailing 5-3, designated hitter Grant Fahrlander and Tucker each recorded outs with a pair of runners on.

The big bright spot for Mat-Su was catcher Steven Lancia. If that name seems familiar, it’s because it is. Lancia caught for the Miners last summer and was an All-ABL Selection. Lancia went 3-for-3 with a walk. And one of those hits was a massive two-run homer in the 5th inning over the left-field wall that tied the game at 3-3.

Another strong showing for the Miners came from relief pitcher Larry Westall. He replaced Texas starting pitcher Ace Whitehead, who made his first appearance this year for the Miners after arriving over the weekend, after four innings. Westall allowed two runs in the 5th inning but both of them were unearned because Barreras made two errors at shortstop. In the 6th inning, the sidearmer struck out the side in order - Kevin Duran, Brayden Broome, and Mike Kelly, and on swinging third strikes.

Westall’s evening was done after that.

In the top of the 7th, the Chinooks scored the two go-ahead runs. Left-fielder Ryan Callahan doubled two batters after the lead-off man Ryan Leonesio walked. The clean-up hitter Ty Beck clocked a long sac fly to right field that scored Leonesio. Then catcher Austin Young roped a single up the middle for Chugiak’s fifth and final run. Reliever Vinny Bianchi pitched the 7th for the Miners. The wet mound didn’t make things easier for the righty.