THUNDER BAY – Just when the Thunder Bay Border Cats looked ready to wake up from their nightmare start to the season they find themselves one loss away from setting a new Northwoods League record.
The Border Cats were on the doorstep of entering the win column for the first time in 2016 but wilted in the final inning, giving up nine runs to end up 11-5 losers to the St. Cloud Rox at Tbaytel Park at Port Arthur Stadium on Tuesday.
Thunder Bay entered the game’s final frame with a 5-2 lead, appearing poised to avoid equaling the league mark for futility with their 15th straight defeat but completely collapsed.
The Rox had their first seven batters reach base, six with hits, before Luke Ringhofer belted a go-ahead grand slam off Border Cats pitcher Ben Hoffman to put the contest out of reach.
Thunder Bay’s Anthony Paesano, who allowed five straight hits which tied the contest, was saddled with the loss.
The Border Cats had held the lead since the second inning after plating a trio of runs, later adding insurance in the fifth and sixth frames.
The two teams will face off again on Wednesday with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
