PALMER — Mat-Su second baseman John Shaffer saved the day for the Miners Saturday night.

Shaffer’s game-winning RBI single off Anchorage Bucs reliever Jayson Kramer scored teammate Blake Newalu from third to give the Miners a 5-4 win in 12 innings after the team blew a 4-2 lead in the top of the ninth.

Left fielder Jordin Hood had two RBI and David Rowse pitched a pair scoreless innings of relief as the Miners snapped a three-game Alaska Baseball League losing streak with the win. Hood’s bases-loaded single helped start a four-run sixth inning for the Miners, which avoided the dubious distinction of becoming the first Mat-Su team in five years to fall below .500 on the season.

After putting up just two hits through the first five innings, the Miners finally got to Gerrish in the sixth. Mat-Su got back-to-back singles from first baseman Troy Scott and Rasmussen to start of the inning, then loaded the bases when Gerrish hit center fielder Kyle Jensen, who was trying to bunt on the play. Hood then took full advantage of his chance to drive in a couple runs, rapping a two-run single into left center field that sent Gerrish in search of the showers.

Newalu picked up an RBI with a bunt single off reliever Gavin Logsdon, and Rodland capped the big inning with a two-out double to push the lead to 4-1.

The win improved the Miners to 10-9 in ABL play. Third-place Mat-Su is currently two and a half games back of the Anchorage Glacier Pilots, which had its game against the Peninsula Oilers suspended Saturday night with the score tied after 12 innings of play.