Oilers Sneak by Miners in Extra Innings
Published on June 24, 2016 under Alaska Baseball League (Alaska)
Mat-Su Miners News Release
Mat-Su Miners at the Plate
(Mat-Su Miners)
PALMER, Alaska - With sole possession of first place in the Alaska Baseball League standings on the line in extra innings, the outcome of Thursday's matchup between the Mat-Su Miners and Peninsula Oilers would come down to one of baseball's rarest plays.
With the bases loaded and one out in the top of the 10th inning, Oilers third baseman Marshall Boggs made a break for home, reaching safely to jump start the Oilers offense in a 2-1 victory over the Miners.
"It's just all a part of baseball truthfully," Miners starting pitcher Trent Shelton said. "Our team is playing really well and we've been hitting the ball. It will all come around. Just one of those days where we couldn't get the time to hit."
Shelton held the Oilers scoreless in 6.2 innings of work on the mound. The junior left-hander fanned eight batters and allowed two hits.
"I just got ahead with the fastball," Shelton said. "When I got two strikes, I went away with the slider, and it was working. The defense was really good tonight, especially up the middle. I can't thank them enough for making the plays they did."
Oilers starting pitcher Bill Oxford matched Shelton's performance, holding the Miners to six hits and collecting seven strikeouts.
The Oilers (5-2) threatened in the top of the seventh, putting runners on the corners with two outs, but relief pitcher Connor Higgins forced Oilers leftfielder Brody Wofford to ground out to second base to end the inning.
The Miners (6-5) responded by moving runners into scoring position with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but a line out from designated hitter Michael Donadio and a strikeout from centerfielder Brooks Stotler retired the side.
With one out and the bases loaded in the top of the 10th inning, Boggs made his move and reached safely after Miners catcher Tyler Wyatt bobbled the pitch from reliever Jordan Floyd. On the following pitch, centerfielder Darius Hill added an RBI groundout to second to stretch the lead to 2-0.
The Miners would score in the bottom of the inning, after Donadio tripled and second baseman Levi Jordan knocked him in with a single cut the deficit to one run. But the effort would not be enough, as the Oilers retired the side to earn the 2-1 win.
Jordan led the Miners offense, going 2-4 at the plate with an RBI, while leftfielder Garrison Schwartz added two hits. Floyd added a single inning of relief for the Miners, and Higgins was tagged with the loss after allowing two runs in 2.1 innings on the mound.
The Miners host the Oilers at 7 p.m. tomorrow night at Hermon Brothers Field in Palmer.
"We'll see how they bounce back tomorrow," Miners head coach Ben Taylor said.
Images from this story
 Mat-Su Miners at the Plate |
Alaska Baseball League Stories from June 24, 2016
- Oilers Sneak by Miners in Extra Innings - Mat-Su Miners
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