Anchorage Daily News

Chu Yuan Chin on Saturday night kept the Fairbanks Goldpanners in the Alaska Baseball League pennant chase.

Chu delivered an RBI single in the 10th inning to lift the Goldpanners to a 5-4 victory over the Anchorage Bucs at Mulcahy Stadium.

The winning hit scored Joe Persichina, who had led off the inning with a double. The victory moved Fairbanks three games back of the ABL leading Peninsula Oilers. Chu finished with two RBIs.

The Bucs, who are two games back, had their chances. They stranded Kevin Koski on third base with no outs in the bottom of the ninth inning. In the 10th, Jason Castro was left on third base with two outs.

Anchorage tied the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the eighth inning with a pair of two-out hits. Ike Davis delivered the first RBI with a single and Dustin Hood added another on a drag bunt.

The rally came after the Goldpanners had taken a 4-2 lead in the top of the eighth on Geoff Byrns' solo home run.

Byrns enjoyed a big night with three hits and three RBIs. The first baseman keyed a three-run fifth inning with a two-run single before striking for a solo homer that gave the Goldpanners a two-run cushion.

Fairbanks also benefitted from timely defense. In the seventh inning, left fielder Mike Lissman denied the tying run from scoring by gunning down Koski at home plate with two outs.

The game started after a one-hour rain delay.

ABL STANDINGS

ALASKA BASEBALL LEAGUE

W L Pct. GB Overall

Oilers 14 8 .636 -- 22-11

Miners 14 9 .609 ½ 19-10

Bucs 13 11 .542 2 19-14

Glacier Pilots 11 10 .524 2 ½ 18-12

Goldpanners 10 10 .500 3 15-13

Fire 5 19 .208 10 7-21

RESULTS AND SCHEDULE

Friday's Results

Anchorage Bucs 3, Mat-Su Miners 2

Peninsula Oilers 10, AIA Fire 2

Fairbanks Goldanners at Glacier Pilots, ppd. rain

Saturday's Results

Fairbanks Panners 5, Anchorage Bucs 4 (10 inn.)

Peninsula Oilers at Mat-Su Miners, ppd. rain

Today's Games

Peninsula Oilers at Anchorage Bucs, 2 p.m.

Fairbanks Goldpanners at Mat-Su Miners (dh) 2 p.m.

Anchorage Glacier Pilots at Athletes in Action (dh), 5 p.m.

Adult League All-Stars vs. Anchorage Bucs, 6 p.m. (exhibition)