The Peninsula Oilers lost to the Mat-Su Miners 5-1 on Tuesday at Hermon Brothers Field in Palmer in the opening game of the Top of the World Series playoffs.
The series is best-of-three. The No. 4 seed Oilers must win Wednesday at 6 p.m. against the top-seeded Miners in Palmer or Peninsula’s season will be over.
The Miners were in control Tuesday behind a dominant effort on the mound from Miners starter Brandon Downer.
He pitched seven scoreless innings, giving up four hits while walking one.
Mario Bejarano got the save, going two innings and giving up a run on three hits while striking out one.
The Miners started quickly in the bottom of the first, taking a 3-0 lead on Oilers starter Ryne Palmer.
Mat-Su would get to Palmer for another run in the fifth. Palmer went five innings, giving up four runs — two earned — on five hits while walking six and striking out one.
Sam Silversmith continued his solid pitching at the end of the season, yielding a run on four hits while striking out one in three innings.
The Miners were up 5-0 in the eighth when the Oilers got their lone run when Cole Nachreilner scored after leading off the inning with a double.
Owen McElfatrick led the Oilers at the plate by finishing 2 for 4.
