Bullpen stumbles, Cats back at .500

It was a night the Thunder Bay Border Cats pitching staff would rather forget.

Staked to an early 4-0 lead, starter Logan Birr and a succession of relievers couldn’t hang on, surrendering five unanswered runs in the eighth inning en route to a 10-5 loss to the Alexandria Beetles that evened the team’s record at 2-2.

Relievers John Jeanes entered a 5-5 game in the eighth and promptly surrendered two runs. Ryan Lucero followed and fared almost as poorly, giving up two runs on a pair of hits to increase the Cats deficit to five.

Evan Weibel was the offensive star again for the Cats, going 2-for-2 at the plate with three runs scored. Shortstop Brett Kay, hitting in the No. 9 hole, homered in the first and drove in two on the night.

Jeanes (0-1) took the loss, while Casey Shiver, who pitched five innings of two-hit relief, earned the win.