THUNDER BAY – Some late-game heroics helped the Thunder Bay Border Cats snap a two-game losing streak.
Greg LaChance singled in a pair of runs in the bottom of the eight and Ty Hamilton followed with an RBI single to help erase a 4-1 lead by the visiting Eau Claire Express, and Manny Alberto lifted a sacrifice fly that plated Jeremy Sheffield, who doubled to lead off the eighth, earning the Border Cats a come-from-behind 5-4 win at Port Arthur Stadium on Monday night.
Makaio Cisneros pitched a sparkling five innings for the Cats, not allowing a run on three hits, striking out three before leaving in the seventh.
His replacement, Jimmy Cerha, had a second straight rough night, allowing four runs on three hits and a pair of walks over one-and-a-third.
The Express (5-9) took the lead with a two-run sixth.
With two on, Marcelino Alonso singled to centre, Adam Salazar and Mcgwire Turner scoring on the play as Eau Claire jumped in front 2-1 in front of just 358 fans at Port Arthur Stadium.
They added two more to their lead in the seventh, with Luke Zmolik on in relief for Thunder Bay.
With runners on second and third, Adam Salazar singled to centre, plating both runners.
Thunder Bay’s first run came in the fourth. Ty Hamilton opened with a single off Eau Claire starter Josh Glaser, who was chased with two outs in the fifth in favour of reliever Jace Kirby.
Cerha, Zmolik and Jackson Hohensee combined to retire eight of the last 10 Eau Claire batters. Hohensee allowed one hit in the ninth, his lone inning of work, and earned the save.
The Cats and Express are back in action in Thunder Bay on Tuesday. Game time 6:35 p.m.
