WATERLOO, IA. -- The Thunder Bay Border Cats are starting to hit their stride.
A five-run fifth propelled the Border Cats to their second-straight win, and fourth in their last five contests, downing the Waterloo Bucks 9-3 on Monday night.
A Connor Allard run-scoring single, two sacrifice flies, a bases loaded walk and another run that came across on a passed ball broke open a tie game to give the Border Cats plenty of cushion.
Pitcher Lucas Reid picked up the win, allowing one earned run in four innings of relief while punching out four Bucks batters. Starter Thomas Valentine surrendered one unearned run in four innings of work.
Designated hitter Andrew Shebloski drove in a pair of runs and left fielder Ryne Edmondson upped his team-leading RBI total to 17.
The Border Cats (8-14) move to within three games of Waterloo (11-11) and the La Crosse Loggers (11-11) at the top of the Great Plains East Division.
Thunder Bay continues their road trip with a two-game set against the Eau Claire Express (10-12) on Tuesday and Wednesday, before heading home to the friendly confines of Port Arthur Stadium beginning on Thursday to host the Mankato MoonDogs.
