Johnny York's seven-inning gem helps Border Cats end three-game slide

A seven-inning dose of Johnny York was just what the slumping Thunder Bay Border Cats needed.

His team on a three-game slide, the left-handed York went seven strong Wednesday night at Tbaytel Field at Port Arthur Stadium, holding the visiting Willmar Stingers to just three hits and two runs as the Cats scored a crucial 5-2 win.

The effort earned York, a Walnut Creek, Calif. native who pitches for Saint Mary’s College of California, his first Northwoods League win in his first start and second appearance with the team.

Stopping the slide was all that mattered, York said.

“Today was huge. We were on a three-game losing skid and my mentality was just to get up there and throw strikes, because we’ve been walking too many people and letting up too many free bases,” said York after his efficient outing that saw him throw just 90 pitches before departing after the seventh.

He’s hoping it’s the start of something good for the Border Cats, who despite the recent stretch remain very much in the North Division first-half playoff hunt with an 11-10 record.

“Hopefully we start a winning streak here and continue to do good.”

Coming off Tuesday’s 7-0 shutout loss to the Stingers, it was important for the offence to show up early on Tuesday.

They got down to business in the first inning, scoring twice against Willmar starter Andrew Towns (L, 0-2), who was forced from the game after throwing 36 pitches, one more than the league limit.

Grant McKown, the league’s leading hitter, started the ball rolling, doubling home Matt Batten, who had reached on an error.

It was McKown’s 19th RBI of the campaign. He would later come home on a wild pitch.

The Cats doubled their lead in the fourth, Tyler Coolbaugh scoring on another wild pitch, with Eddie Posavec plating Mike Palladino with a sacrifice fly.

York found trouble in the sixth, hitting Ky Parrott with the bases loaded to force home the Stingers’ first run of the night.

Lucas Tancas knocked in Willmar’s second and final score on a ground out to third. York then retired Brian Pruett on a routine grounder to second, and got the ball to start the seventh, once again eluding trouble when two of the first three batters reached.

Border Cats manager Danny Benedetti said York’s outing couldn’t have come at a better time.

“The only thing you can ask for from your starting pitching is to throw strikes and get guys out, and I think he did both absolutely phenomenally,” Benedetti said. “He was 60 pitches through six innings, or something like that. It was phenomenal and he was saving our bullpen so we can use them tomorrow  and even the two games after that against Alexandria.”

Nate Steger pitched a perfect eighth and turned the ball over to Cole Stapler who was also perfect, striking out two to record his third save of the season.

The Cats remain 2.5 games back of front-running Duluth, who beat Green Bay 7-3.

Attendance was 642.