Cats lose pitching duel

The Thunder Bay Border Cats gave themselves a chance on Thursday night.

They just couldn’t come through in the clutch.

Trailing by two runs in the ninth, the Cats had runners on first and second with one out and first and third with two outs.

But Kevin Taylor, the No. 4 hitter in the lineup, could only manage a grounder to second, putting to an end a 3-1 win by the visiting St. Cloud River Bats at Port Arthur Stadium.
Andy Urban (1-1), went six innings for the River Bats, allowing four hits and no runs.

Zach Hirsch took over in the seventh, and the Cats promptly pounced, with Brett Kay tripling and scoring on a Cullen Mahoney grounder.

Hirsch closed it out to pick up the save.

Logan Birr (0-1), a native of St. Cloud who started for the Cats, gave up two runs in six innings to take the loss.

The Cats and Bats are at it again on Friday morning, a special school-day 11:05 a.m. start at Port Arthur Stadium.