newsminer.com

Photo by John Wagner

Photo by John Wagner

FAIRBANKS — Athletes in Action came to life Monday night at Growden Memorial Park.

After being whacked 12-4 Sunday night and falling behind by two runs on two different occasions Monday, the Fire used a four-run outburst in the sixth inning to claim a 6-4 Alaska Baseball League victory over the Anchorage Bucs.

Trailing 4-2, AIA scored four runs in the sixth inning to take the lead for good. Quinn Clair delivered a two-run double to tie the score. Ryan Thompson then scored what proved to be the winning run on a fielder’s choice by Frank Darden. Kevin Winn’s sacrifice fly capped the rally.

Anchorage scored single runs in the first and third innings to take a 2-0 lead, but the Fire picked up two runs in the fourth to tie the game.

Anchorage responded with two runs in the fifth, setting the stage for AIA’s sixth-inning rally.

Ryan Enos had two hits and drove in a run for the Fire. Brint Hardy also had a pair of hits for AIA and scored twice.

Todd Jeffress earned the win for AIA, with Jeremy McChesney picking up the save.

Jimmy Parque doubled to lead the Bucs’ offensive attack and Bryn Henderson singled and drove in two runs.

Paul Gerrish was tagged with the loss.

The Fire and Bucs are tied for fifth place in the ABL standings, 4 1/2 games behind the league-leading Anchorage Glacier Pilots.

The Fire (5-10) and Bucs (6-11) are scheduled to meet again at 7 tonight at Growden. They wrap up their four-game series with a 2 p.m. contest on Wednesday.

In the only other game involving an ABL team Monday night, the Peninsula Oilers downed Taiwan, 2-1.

Panners rained out

Monday night’s game between the Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks and the Mat-Su Miners at Hermon Brothers Field in Palmer was postponed because of rain.

The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on July 16.

The Panners have today off and return to Growden Park to host the Anchorage Bucs at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

The Panners play the Bucs again at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday and then meet the Fire on Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday’s action starts at 5:30 p.m. with the completion of the June 27 game, followed by the regularly scheduled game. Sunday’s game is at 7 p.m.