THUNDER BAY -- Shane Shepard delivered the big blow on Friday night, crushing a three-run home run in a five-run fifth to push the Thunder Bay Border Cats back over .500 in second-half play.
All five runs were unearned, the result of an error that let Andrew Fregia reach base to open the inning.
The blast was Shepard’s third of the season.
Gunnar Kay went six innings, allowing one run on six hits while striking out eight in the 6-3 triumph over the visiting Waterlook Bucks at Tbaytel Park.
Kay evened his record at 1-1 with the performance.
Waterloo Starter Brett Solano took the loss, despite not allowing an earned run before leaving in the sixth.
Vinny Santarsiero pitched a perfect pair of innings to close it out and pick up his third save of the season for the Border Cats, who played before a crowd of 508 in a game delayed more than half-an-hour by rain.
Jake Hand homered in the second and walked home another run in the seventh, Thunder Bay reliever Dan McBryan striking out Alex Boxwell to end the threat.
The Cats and Bucks hook up again on Saturday.
