Shutout baseball pushes the Miners out of first place in loss to the Glacier Pilots

ANCHORAGE -- Winning is hard with zero runs, and the Miners learned that lesson with a 3-0 Tuesday loss at the Glacier Pilots that flipped Anchorage into first place and Mat-Su into second.

The M’s cobbled together a trio of base hits in the loss, while Anchorage strung together 10 hits with at least one knock in seven innings.

Mat-Su starter Brandon Downer threw five innings with three runs allowed, two of which were earned. The Anchorage runs came through unconventional means.

Pilots center fielder Blake Jackson shuttled a single to center field to bring around third baseman Andrew Nykoluk from third. Right fielder Elijah Rodriguez began the play on first base, and he ran for third. The Miners defense tried to nab him unsuccessfully. While Rodriguez grabbed third, Jackson broke for second. The M’s chucked the ball into right field trying to tag Jackson at second, allowing Rodriguez to score on the error.

Later on in the sixth inning, Mat-Su lefty Mario Bejarano relieved Downer with runners on base. Anchorage first baseman Nathan Barrazza stood on third base, and Nykoluk started on second. Shortstop Joey Wright flared a grounder to first base. Mat-Su’s 1B Cooper Vest charged on the chopper, expecting Bejarano to cover first, but when he remained on the hill, Vest had nowhere to throw the ball. Barrazza scored on the miscue, and Nykoluk tried to follow up. Vest tossed the ball to catcher Steven Lancia who caught the stray baserunner in a pickle, eventually ending with a tag out at the plate.

Anchorage starter Aaron Ceniceros allowed just three hits in five shutout frames on the way to earning the win. The Glacier Pilots rode reliever Tai Atkins through the second half of the game. The lefty allowed zero hits in his four relief innings, striking out three, and earning the save.

The Mat-Su bats went down in order in five innings, and they stranded four runners in scoring position. The M’s fell into second place behind the first place Pilots.

The Miners return home on Wednesday to take on the last place Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks with a 6 p.m. first pitch.