The Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks defeated the Peninsula Oilers 8-5 on Tuesday in Alaska Baseball League play at Lee Jordan Field in Chugiak.
The Chinooks opened up a close game with four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and the Oilers could never recover.
Peninsula falls to sole possession of last place with the loss. The Oilers are at 2-5 in the league, while the Chinooks and Anchorage Bucs are tied for third at 3-4.
The Mat-Su Miners lead the league at 4-1, while the Anchorage Glacier Pilots are right behind at 4-2.
The Oilers continue their season-opening 10-game road trip in 10 days with Game 8 of the trip — a 6 p.m. contest against the Pilots at Mulcahy Stadium on Wednesday.
The Oilers grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but the Chinooks scored twice in the bottom of the inning.
The Oilers scored once in the third and once in the fourth to go up 3-2, but Chugiak-Eagle River tied it in the bottom of the fourth.
The Chinooks then scored four in the fifth and another in the sixth to take control of the game at 8-3.
Peninsula would score twice in the top of the seventh, but the comeback stopped there.
Sam Silversmith took the loss in relief for the Oilers thanks to that big fifth inning. Silversmith went 2 1-3 innings, giving up six runs on seven hits while walking one and striking out one.
Arnad Mulamekic got the start for the Oilers and went three innings, giving up two runs on three hits while walking four and striking out one.
Ryan Brown was solid relieving in the late innings for the Oilers, delivering 2 2-3 scoreless innings while allowing a hit and two walks.
Brett Grupe led the Oilers at the plate, going 2 for 4 with three runs. Drewbie Pinkston also was 2 for 4, while Bren Wilkinson had a pair of RBIs.
