THUNDER BAY – A second half that began with promise is winding down in disappointment for the Thunder Bay Border Cats.
The Northwoods League team was edged 7-6 by the Eau Claire Express on Friday night at Port Arthur Stadium.
It was their 10th straight loss.
Andrew Pratt proved to be the difference-maker for the visiting Express, driving in the winning run with an eighth-inning sacrifice fly off Cats reliever Zach Edwards, who was otherwise solid in two innings of relief.
Until then it was a back-and-forth contest.
Eau Clair jumped in front 4-0, scoring a pair in the fourth and two more in the fifth off Thunder Bay starter Drew Gooch.
But the home side had an answer in the bottom of the fifth, scoring four of their own to tie the contest 4-4.
Calen Schwabe started the ball rolling with an RBI single that scored Brandon Bossard, who walked to open the inning.
Schwabe and Ben McConnell crossed the plate on Billy Cook’s 20th double of the season, who then scored himself on a wild pitch with Brandon Trammell at the dish.
Eau Claire took a 6-4 lead in the seventh, scoring a pair of runs at the expense of reliever Jack Rasmussen, handed the ball to start the inning after Gooch departed, having allowed four runs, three of them earned, on nine hits over six.
Nick Brueser plated the first run with a single while David LaManna added another run with a double on a 1-0 count.
The Border Cats answered back in their next turn at bat to chase Express starter Carson Rudd, who nevertheless picked up the victory.
Once again it was Cook who delivered for Thunder Bay, blasting a two-run shot, his fourth home run of the season.
Zach Grech tossed a scoreless ninth to earn the save, setting the Cats down in order.
Claw marks: Four Border Cats will represent the franchise at the Major League Dreams Showcase later this month in Madison. Cook, Trammell, Cam Pearcey and Omar Maldonado got the call.