Running strong: Late scores key in Mat-Su Miners victory over Chugiak

PALMER — During a pair of nonleague games earlier this week, the Mat-Su Miners showed flashes of speed on the base paths. Friday, the Miners found another gear.

Mat-Su used its speed to score a pair of key insurance runs during a 4-2 win over the Chugiak Chinooks in front of 1,012 fans at Hermon Brothers Field. Vance Vizcaino legged out an infield single to drive in a run, and Tanner Nishioka scored a late run on a wild pitch to help Mat-Su earn the victory in its 2015 Alaska Baseball League opener.

“Speed never goes into a slump,” Mat-Su head coach Ben Taylor said after the win.

Mat-Su starting pitcher Calvin LeBrun tossed a gem, scattering four hits over seven scoreless innings to help the Miners take a 2-0 lead late into the ball game. But after Chugiak tagged the Mat-Su bullpen for a pair, those late runs generated by hustle proved to be crucial for the Miners.

The Vizcaino and Nishioka runs sandwiched Chugiak’s two-run eighth inning. In the bottom of the eighth, Nishioka helped Mat-Su answer the two Chugiak runs. Nishioka, who reached base four times during the win, drew a lead-off walk to open Mat-Su’s half of the inning. With two outs and Nishioka on third, Chugiak relief pitcher Travis Stone bounced a pitch past the plate. Nishioka darted toward home and beat the throw at the plate to give Mat-Su the 4-2 lead.

“Coach just told me, watch for a passed ball, and there was a passed ball,” Nishioka said after the win. “We got lucky. It was nice.”

After watching the reliever warm up on the mound, Taylor said it was something to look out for.

“You’ve got to be on your toes. I thought he made a real aggressive read. It was a good play by Tanner,” Taylor said.

In the bottom of the seventh, with two outs, Vizcaino hit a hard ground ball to the left side of the infield. Vizcaino hustled down to first and beat the throw, allowing Brick Paskiewicz to score.

“I’m really proud of him,” Taylor said of Vizcaino. “He hustled down the line for his team.”

The Vizcaino and Nishioka runs helped ensure LeBrun would get credit for the victory, after throwing seven stellar innings.

“I thought he did an unbelievable job,” Taylor said of LeBrun. “I couldn’t have asked for anything more out of that guy.”

LeBrun allowed only four hits in his seven innings of work, fanned seven and didn’t walk a batter. After the game, LeBrun said it felt great about his Alaska Baseball League debut.

“It was good; pounding the zone early, getting all my pitches to work,” LeBrun said.

LeBrun also worked fast, facing only 24 batters over seven innings. He threw 53 of his 78 total pitches for strikes.

“He pounds the zone, works quick, keeps our defense sharp,” Taylor said.

LeBrun was also sharp as a defender. Twice, the ball came off a Chugiak bat right back to LeBrun on the mound. In the top of the first, LeBrun handled a Braxton Wilks liner, and made the easy through to first. In the top of the second, Tyler Boxwell sent a hard line drive right to LeBrun. The Mat-Su pitch was able to make the tough catch, and catch base runner Hunter Hanks off second base for the double play.

“I’ve had a bunch of those my freshman year at Gonzaga, so I’m used to it,” LeBrun said of the line drives right back to the mound.

Paskiewicz, who started the game in right field, pitched the ninth to earn the save.

Mat-Su finished with a season-high 11 hits in the victory. Nishioka was 3 for 3, with a walk and a run scored. Alex Caruso was 2 for 3 with a run. Vizcaino finished 2 for 4 with two RBI, and a run scored.

“We just kept battling,” Nishioka said. “It was a great team victory.”

Today, the Miners make their first trip to Anchorage of the season, meeting the Bucs at 2 p.m. at Mulcahy Stadium.