Bucs Rally to Hand Miners a Series Loss
July 28, 2016 - Alaska Baseball League (Alaska)
Mat-Su Miners News Release
PALMER, Alaska - A day after exploding for 20 runs, the Mat-Su Miners offense appeared to carry that momentum into Wednesday's meeting with the Anchorage Bucs by scoring four early runs.
But a late rally from Anchorage would prove enough to hand the Miners a series loss while cutting Mat-Su's lead in the Alaska Baseball League standings to 1.5 games.
"We just need to keep playing together as a team," outfielder Michael Donadio said. "We need to pitch the ball well and get timely hitting. If we do those things we have the chance to do well in the playoffs."
The Miners (22-15) opened the scoring in the first inning for the third consecutive game. Mat-Su second baseman Levi Jordan doubled into the centerfield gap to score designated hitter Jacob Hughey, while rightfielder Cam Montgomery walked with the bases loaded to increase the lead to 2-0.
The Miners tallied two more runs in the second on RBI base hits from Donadio and outfielder Garrison Schwartz and Michael Donadio.
"I've been trying to be aggressive and have fun at the plate," Donadio said. "I'm also just trying to get on base and not do anything big, which I believe has helped me a lot."
Anchorage starter Angel Landazuri lasted just 3.2 innings in his eighth start, surrendering four runs on six hits. Zach Reid took the mound in relief and held the Miners to one run and one hit in 2.2 innings of work.
The Bucs (19-20) would begin a comeback effort in the top of the third, as centerfielder Steven Sensley doubled down the right field line with two outs to score shortstop L.J. Hatch.
First baseman Aaron Arruda added a 360-foot solo shot for Anchorage in the top of the fourth, while Hatch singled against Mat-Su relief pitcher Mick Vorhof in the following inning to cut the deficit to 4-3.
The Bucs tied the game in the top of the sixth when catcher Chad Reibenspies singled to score leftfielder Bryant Harris. A throwing error by Mat-Su first baseman Jake Scudder with two outs brought in the go-ahead run for the Bucs.
Vorhof finished with 2.2 innings of relief, allowing three runs on five hits.
Sensley extended the Anchorage lead to 6-4 with a solo home run in the top of the seventh against Miners reliever Jordan Frederick.
Frederick provided the Miners with 1.1 innings of work, holding the Bucs to one run and two hits.
Mat-Su would cut the deficit to one run in the bottom of the seventh. With a 3-1 count, Donadio tripled to centerfield and scored when the throw from the outfield bounced off his helmet.
"I slid into third and was clunked in the head and felt a little dazed at first," Donadio said. "The coaches were yelling at me to go home, so I just went for it."
Aaron Arruda led the Bucs at the plate with two hits, two runs and an RBI. Sensley and Hatch each went 2-5 at the plate and combined for three RBIs.
Donadio supplied the bulk of the Mat-Su offense with three hits, falling a home run short of the cycle.
"I thought he might have had a home run on the ball hit to centerfield," Taylor said. "He hit the ball really well today. Mike just plugs along and does a really good job for us, you know what you're going to get out of him every single day."
The Miners return to Hermon Brothers Field at 6 p.m. on Thursday for the first matchup of a two-game home series with the Anchorage Glacier Pilots.
"Every game has the same importance and we approach it in the same way," Taylor said. "You can't get hung up on big games. We just look at the schedule and see who we have in front of us."
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Alaska Baseball League Stories from July 28, 2016
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- Bucs Rally to Hand Miners a Series Loss - Mat-Su Miners
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