WATERLOO, Iowa – Make it six in a row for the Thunder Bay Border Cats.
Jeremy Sheffield went 3-for-4, drove in a pair and scored twice on Tuesday night to lead the Cats to a crucial division win over the second-place Waterloo Bucks.
The Cats, held off the board in the first, scored two in the second and three in the third, chasing Waterloo starter Camden Lyke, who departed with two outs in the third inning, having allowed five runs on four hits and five walks.
Sheffield had the big hit, a two-run single and one batter later, Lyke was sent to the showers and Alex Alberico came on in relief.
Corey Morro singled to centre to plate Sheffield, giving Thunder Bay a 5-0 lead.
Manny Alberto singled to right in the fourth, upping the Border Cats lead by one.
Tyler Talbert got the start for the visitors and lasted five innings of three-hit, shutout ball and was credited with the win, striking out four while walking three.
Talbert improved to 3-1 on the season.
Grant Faris took over in the sixth inning of a planned seven-inning contest, the game shortened because the two teams were playing two games on Tuesday after Monday’s series opener was rained out.
The Bucks got to Faris in a hurry.
Jake Bechtel and Larry Edwards had back-to-back singles and pinch hitter Sam Finn joined the fun, singling to load the bases.
Ian Halvorsen walked to score Waterloo’s first run of the night and Parkey Sweeney was hit by a pitch, closing the gap to 6-2. Jake Slade drew another bases loaded walk, but Luca Perriello bounced the ball to the pitcher and the Cats got the home-to-first double play.
George Hansen came on in relief and got Caleb Parker to line out to the first baseman, ending the inning.
Hansen retired the first two batters of the ninth, but a single and two walks loaded the bases, bringing the potential winning run to the plate.
Hansen settled down and struck out pinch hitter Jimmy Nugent to end the game.
Lyke (1-1) took the loss and Hansen grabbed the save, his first of the Northwoods League season.
With the win, the Border Cats (18-10) pulled to within half a game of second-place Waterloo (19-10) and to within two of first-place La Crosse, who dropped a 17-4 decision at home to Eau Claire.
The Cats and Bucks are scoreless in the fourth inning of Game 2.
