WATERLOO, Iowa – The Thunder Bay Border Cats couldn’t get out of Waterloo fast enough.
A game after giving up 14 runs to the host Bucks, Cats starter Peyton Burks was pounded for nine runs before departing with two outs in the fourth.
The Border Cats would go on to lose 9-2 on Wednesday night in their penultimate road series of 2019.
The Bucks erupted for four runs in the first, added another in the second and chased Burks with four more in the fourth.
Blake Wagenseller singled twice and doubled once, driving in three to lead the Waterloo offence. Dylan Phillips and Ethan Copeland had a pair of RBI apiece for the Bucks.
Jakob Newton homered for Thunder Bay, his first of the season. Jake Larson plated the Cats only other run.
Relievers Brendan Cindric and Tyler Hanson three 4.1 innings of one-hit ball to halt the Waterloo offence, but the damage had already been done.
Burks was saddled with the loss, giving up nine runs on 11 hits and two walks.
Jack Dolak got the start for Waterloo, but left after the fourth. Petyon Fuller took over and earned the win, not allowing a hit over three innings of relief work.
The Border Cats sank to 9-22 in the second half, while the Bucks improved to 13-17.
Thunder Bay’s D.J. DePiero is expected to get the start on Thursday night in La Crosse.
