DULUTH, Minn. – It was a tale of two teams headed in the opposite direction.
The host Duluth Huskies on Wednesday took sole possession of top spot in the Northwoods League`s North Division, downing the Thunder Bay Border Cats 6-1 at Wade Stadium, their fourth straight triumph jumping them a game in front of the second-place Bismarck Larks at 11-5.
The Cats, on the other hand, dropped their sixth straight division and sank seven games back of the front-running Huskies at 4-12, tied with Eau Claire in the division cellar and the worst record in the 20-team circuit.
A four-run seventh did the visitors in, reliever Justin King not getting the job done taking over for starter Joey Cardamon, who went six strong, allowing two runs on six hits and a walk.
King, who tossed a single inning, was torched by the Huskies, who scored four times on four hits and a walk to break open a 2-1 contest and put the game out of reach.
Chris Gilbody delivered the big blow, a two-run triple off King that scored Augie Isaacson and Nicholas Sogard, cousin of current Milwaukee Brewers infielder Eric Sogard and the nephew of former major leaguers Dave and Steve Sax.
Trevin Esquerra and Kyle Jacobsen also had RBI singles in the decisive frame.
The Cats lone run came in the opening inning.
Garrett Saunders hit a leadoff double off Huskies starter Troy Newell and later scored on an Evan Russell single.
Newell allowed just five hits – three of them coming in the first – walking three while striking out five to pick up the win, improving to 2-1 on the season.
The two teams were coming off a 15-inning marathon the night before, the Huskies prevailing 6-4.
Thunder Bay heads to Willmar for a two-game set with the Stingers, returning home Saturday night against Rochester.
