Anchorage Daily News

PALMER -- Joey August's two-run single broke a 2-2 tie in sixth, propelling the Mat-Su Miners to a 5-2 home win Friday over the Anchorage Glacier Pilots.

Almost 700 fans at Hermon Brothers Field cheered, ate hot dogs and drank local brews on an overcast evening blessedly free of wildfire smoke that had plagued Mat-Su much of the day.

Smoke from a large fire burning near Trapper Creek descended over much of Southcentral Alaska earlier in the day.

The Miners had to scratch runs across before August's big hit. Carl Uhl scored on a groundout after getting hit by a pitch to reach, and Ben Price made it 2-0 when Pilots' starter Jorden Merry was called for a balk.

Derek Helenihi finished 3 for 3 and scored a run for the Miners, while Price finished 2 for 4 with a run and an RBI.

The Pilots tied it with two runs in the sixth. Luke Yoder doubled and scored on a wild pitch, and Bernard Williams came across when Todd Sebek's grounder bounced wildly over the head of Helenihi, the Miners' shortstop.

Miners' starter Jason Erickson pitched seven innings, giving up five hits and two runs; both were unearned.

Pilots' manager Chris Jones was tossed from the game for arguing with officials in the ninth. After Sebek led off with a double, he was called out for leaving the base early after tagging up on a fly-ball out.

The victory pushed the Miners league-leading ABL record to 3-1 while the Pilots fell to 1-2 in league play.

The Pilots host the adult-league all-stars at 7 p.m. tonight at Mulcahy Stadium.

Oilers 8, Bucs 1

A leaky defense and timely hitting came together in the third inning to send the Oilers to victory in their ABL opener and hand the Bucs their first loss of the season.

A misplayed bunt broke a 1-1 tie and Michael Dabbs followed with a two-run double. Toby Davis added another double to score Dabbs for a 5-1 lead.

The Bucs had started the season 9-0 overall and won their ABL opener against the Glacier Pilots earlier in the week.

The Bucs, who came into the game hitting .347, were held to six hits.

Panners 10, Oceanside 2

Catcher Chris Lum went 3 for 4 with two runs and three RBIs Friday to lead the Goldpanners to the win.

Fairbanks pounded out four runs both in the second and fourth innings.

Starting pitcher Jonathan Kountis pitched six innings, allowing two runs on four hits.

Panners' streak ends

The Oceanside Waves from California spoiled the Fairbanks Goldpanners' 14-year streak of winning their signature game, taking the 102nd Midnight Sun Baseball Classic 6-1 at Growden Memorial Field in Fairbanks.

Played in front of more than 4,000 fans and ending early Friday morning, the Goldpanners walked nine and hit two batters in dropping the non-league affair.

ABL STANDINGS

ALASKA BASEBALL LEAGUE

W L Pct. GB Overall

Oilers 1 0 1.000 -- 9-0

Miners 3 1 .750 -- 5-1

Bucs 1 1 .500 ½ 9-1

Goldpanners 0 0 -- ½ 5-2

Glacier Pilots 1 2 .333 1½ 6-4

Fire 1 3 .250 2 3-5

RESULTS AND SCHEDULE

Thursday's Result

Oceanside (Calif.) 6, Goldpanners 1

Friday's Results

Miners 5, Pilots 2

Oilers 8, Bucs 1

Goldpanners 10, Oceanside (Calif.) 2

Today's Games

AIA at Goldpanners, 7 p.m.

Bucs at Oilers, 7 p.m.

Pilots vs. Adult-League All-Stars, 7 p.m.