ROCHESTER, Minn. – It was another short start for Thunder Bay Border Cats right-hander Omar Maldonado.
The Cats hurler lasted just two innings on Wednesday night, walking six batters and surrendering four runs – just two of them earned – as his team dropped a 7-3 road decision to the Rochester Honkers, Thunder Bay’s 11th loss in 12 games.
Maldonado (0-3) has made four starts this season and not escaped the fourth inning in any of them, despite being handed a 2-0 lead in his most recent outing before he’d thrown a single pitch.
Evan Russell and Brady Gulakowski had first-inning RBIs for Thunder Bay, but an error by third baseman Billy Cook and a wild pitch led to a pair of Rochester runs in the bottom half of the inning.
The Honkers took the lead for good in the second when Alec McCarry singled to the first-base side, plating Jaylon McLaughlin and Logan Denholm.
Rochester added two in the fourth and one in the fifth off reliever Justin King, before Brandon Trammell smacked his first homerun of the season in the seventh to wrap up the scoring.
David Lemasters took the win for the Honkers, pitching six innings of six-hit, two-run ball, in a game that only lasted seventh innings after rain halted play.
Last-place Thunder Bay (5-17), land in Duluth for a one-game match-up Thursday night, returning home on Friday for the first of three straight against Rochester.
Alex Nolan is expected to take the mound for the Border Cats, while Troy Howell is scheduled for Duluth.
