Oilers drop scoreless exhibition dud to Panners

Published 9:10 am Saturday, July 18, 2015

It did not count against their season record, but the Peninsula Oilers continued a recent slump with a 2-0 loss to the Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks, Friday afternoon at Mulcahy Park in Anchorage.

The seven-inning exhibition was a showcase event, part of the Alaska Baseball League All-Star weekend in which Outside scouts show up to take in the talent.

The Oilers stumbled however, notching only two hits in a scoreless outing that saw only three batters reach base.

After piecing together a streak of six wins in seven games that saw the Oilers leading the American League with a 12-8 record, the club had dropped five in a row — six straight including Friday’s loss — that has allowed the Anchorage Bucs (13-12) to take the AL lead by a game.

A.J. Franks pitched a sparkling sixth inning to pick up the win for the Panners, throwing two strikeouts in 17 pitches, while teammate John Schreiber recorded the save in the seventh with one strikeout. David Diaz took the loss for the Oilers, giving up the only two runs of the game on two hits and a walk while striking out two.

A pair of singles by Renae Martinez and Evan Cassolato to begin the bottom of the sixth set up the winning runs. On an ensuing hit by Andrew Carrillo, Oilers third baseman Alex Seifert’s throw to first went wild, allowing Martinez to score. A groundout by J.D. Hearn later allowed Cassolato to score.

Brent Diaz and Blake Wilfong ended as the only Oilers players to record a hit, getting consecutive singles to start the fifth inning. Diaz made it as far as third base, but a double play swiftly brought the frame to an end.

The Oilers will be facing the Pilots in another showcase exhibitioner at Mulcahy today at 7 p.m., before taking a break Sunday for the ABL Home Run Derby and All-Star game, set for 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively.

Friday

Panners 2, Oilers 0

OilersABRHBIPannersABRHBI

Sfrt 3b3000Mrtz c4120

Olvr 1b2000Cslt rf3110

Bke ss3000Crlo 2b3000

Ruhm rf3000Bush dh2000

Diaz c3010Hrn 3b3001

Wlfg dh2010Bynm cf2000

Glky 2b2000Jnes ss3010

Fwlk cf2000Rbts 1b3000

Rvra lf2000Smnr lf2000

Wlsn lf0000Wxn ph1000

Totals22020Totals26241

Oilers0000000—021

Panners0000020—240

SB — Carrillo (5). E — Seifert (2). LOB — Oilers 2, Panners 5.

IPHRERBBSO

Oilers

Mata2.010012

Medeles1.010001

VanStone1.000000

Diaz, L2.022012

Michel1.000000

Panners

Torson2.000010

Fernandez2.000003

Hingst1.020001

Franks, W1.000002

Schreiber, S1.000001

T — 1:39.