The host Anchorage Glacier Pilots defeated the Peninsula Oilers 10-2 on Friday at Mulcahy Stadium in Alaska Baseball League play.
The Pilots won their fourth straight game to move to 5-3 in the league, while the Oilers fall to 3-5. The Mat-Su Miners lead the league with a 7-2 record.
The Oilers are opening up their ABL season with an 11-game road trip that is taking place over 10 days. Pitching can be scarce at the beginning of the league season, so it’s no surprise the Oilers ran out of pitching Friday.
The Oilers took the lead on a two-out double by Willie Schwarick and then a single by Cole Jordan.
Conner Kershaw threw five scoreless innings for the Oilers, but then the Pilots took control of the game in the bottom of the sixth.
Knowing the Oilers only had two-way player James Shimashita available in the bullpen, Kershaw tried to start the sixth, but Kershaw and Shimashita combined to give up eight runs on four hits and one crucial error in the inning.
The Oilers then had position players Jordan and Dalton Bowling each pitch an inning. Each gave up a run.
Bowling did get a run back with an RBI triple in the top of the ninth.
Thursday night, the Oilers played late to defeat the host Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks 10-7 in 10 innings at Lee Jordan Field.
Saturday, the Oilers travel to play the Mat-Su Miners at 7 p.m. at Hermon Brothers Field. Sunday, the Oilers face the Anchorage Bucs at 2 p.m. at Mulcahy Stadium in Anchorage, while the Oilers wrap up the season-opening road trip Monday at Mulcahy at 7 p.m. against the Anchorage Glacier Pilots.
Peninsula’s home opener will be Wednesday at 6 p.m. against the Pilots.
