Cats fall to 0-9 for season after loss in Wisconsin

WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wisc. – The Thunder Bay Border Cats remain without a win nine games into the Northwoods League season.

The Cats offence could only muster three hits on Wednesday night off Wisconsin Rapids Rafters starter Gareth Stroh, who earned his first win of 2016, striking out eight in seven shutout innings.

Thunder Bay would go down to defeat 5-0, their ninth straight loss to open the season, a franchise worst.

Gunnar Kay tossed six innings for the visitors, surrendering three runs on six hits and two walks to take the loss, falling to 0-1 in three appearances. It was his first start this year.

Wisconsin Rapids right-fielder Dustin Woodcock had a run-scoring double and a two-run home run to power the cross-over win.

The Rafters improved to 5-3, leaving them a game-and-a-half behind first place Madison in the South Division.

The Cats are the lone Northwoods League team without a win and slipped 6.5 games out of first place in the North Division.

Thunder Bay is hitting a woeful .203 on the season with a league-worst 7.30 team ERA.

The two teams will clash again on Thursday.