EAU CLAIRE, Wisc. – The nightmarish start to the second half of the season continued on Saturday night for the Thunder Bay Border Cats.
An eight-run fourth saw to that.
The host Eau Claire Express erupted for eight runs in the inning, seven against Thunder Bay starter Austin Breazeale, and went on to down their struggling opponent 11-3.
The Cats dropped to 1-10 in second-half play, losing their fifth in a row.
Eau Claire sent 14 batters to the plate in the fourth, Connor Laspina’s bases-clearing double the big blow. He led off the winning with a solo home run.
Breazeale gave up four hits and two walks before getting the one-out hook from manager Eric Vasquez.
Newcomer Triston Lundgren gave up a single and a walk before getting Brock Burton to pop to third for the first out of the inning.
They’d trail 10-0 once all was said and done in the frame.
The Border Cats got three back in the top of the fifth, loading the bases against Alec Jacob, who then walked Ryne Edmondson and gave up a run-scoring single to Jakob Newton before his night came to an end.
Jimenez drew a six-pitch walk off replacement Tim Ewald to score one more, but it was the final time the Cats would cross the plate.
Ewald recorded the final 12 outs for the win.
Breazeale, making his final start of the season for Thunder Bay, lasted 3.1 innings, giving up seven runs on eight hits and six walks.
The Express (8-3) took sole possession of top spot in the Great Plains East Division, breaking a tie with La Crosse. Thunder Bay (1-10) fell seven games back.
Southpaw Mark Anderson is expected to get the call for Thunder Bay in Sunday afternoon’s rematch.