Home victory

More than 1,000 enturisastic fans watched as the Thunder Bay Border Cats scratched their way to a 1-0 win in the season’s home opener Monday against the Rochester Honkers.
 
After five scoreless innings at Port Arthur stadium, the Cats (4-2) broke through when centerfielder David Fallon was driven home with the game's only run on a sacrifice fly to rightfield by 3B Alex Guthrie in the bottom of the sixth.
 
“We scratched and clawed for that one late run,” Cats manager Mike Steed said about the team's manufactured run. “It just could have been the emotions of the night, the anxiety a little bit. First home game, a big loud crowd – they were great tonight – and new sight lines for a lot of these guys.”

The single run was a group effort as Fallon began the sixth-inning offensive rally with a double down the first-base line. A sacrifice bunt from shortstop Brett Kay sent him to third before Guthrie’s bat got him across home plate.

Starting pitcher Tyler Mack (1-0) had a shaky start, but managed to keep the Honkers from scoring in six strong innings of one-hit ball.
 
“He pitched himself into trouble, had a few lead-off walks back-to-back innings and forced himself to make quality pitches with runners on bases, with runners in scoring position two or three times,” Steed said.
 
In the top of the second Mack put runners on first and second, but followed with three consecutive strikeouts.
 
“The arm felt pretty good,” said the Katy, Texas native. “It was kind of dragging a little bit, threw a lot more balls than I wanted, but we’re here to work so we’re gonig to have a pretty good summer.”
 
Mack kept the Honkers scoreless for six innings before the Cats brought in Ryan Lucero for the seventh, Donnie White pitched the eighth and fan-favourite Zak Miller earned himself the save with a successful close in the ninth.

Miller could find out on Tuesday if he's been drafted by a major league team. 
 
The victory improves the Cats record to 4-2 this season and when infielders T.J. Bennett and Cullen Mahoney join the team later this week, Steed says they’ll have an even more balanced team.
 
“That gives us a complete lineup from one through nine with speed, contact and some power guys,” he said. “With our starting pitchers, if you can give us an effort to get us through the fifth or sixth inning, we’re deep in the bullpen and match up very well late in the game. That’s probably the biggest part of our game this year.”
 
Steed said winning the opener excited the players and fans alike.
 
“It gets our players excited because they saw the atmosphere here,” he said. “It’s always easier to come to the ballpark and play when you know you have the home city behind  you.
 
“It was electric in here tonight and it was such a close ball game that just added to the aura of the whole situation."
 
The Cats play Rochester at home again Tuesday in game two of their three game series, which wraps up Wednesday evening at Port Arthur stadium.

The Cats continue their homestand against the Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers on Thursday and Friday.