The Thunder Bay Border Cats dug themselves a 5-0 first-inning hole Friday night.
But perseverance and a quick hook by manager Dan Holcomb paid off handsomely, as the Cats stormed back at Subway Field, scoring six runs in the sixth inning to pull off a remarkable 11-6 come-from-behind win over the Duluth Huskies.
Reliever Zach Thiac came to the rescue of starter Ryan Atwood, yanked after giving up five runs on four hits and two walks, while only recording two outs.
Thiac said he’s all about entering games in similar circumstances.
“It’s not tough at all. I’m used to coming in with pressure. I’m normally a relief pitcher. This is the first time I’ve gone long, which I’m fine with. I just want to do what I can to help my team, the Kenner, La. native said.
Thiac (2-0), who also picked up the win on Thursday night in a one-inning appearance, lasted 5.1 innings against the Huskies the second time around, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out three.
It’s these kinds of wins the Border Cats (10-14) need to get their season back on track, Thiac said.
“It’s definitely a good thing to do, to get these two wins at home and go on the road. Hopefully we can propel these two wins and just keep it going,” he said.
It wasn’t the start Holcomb was looking for out of Atwood, but he knew he could count on his relief crew to get the job done and give his offence a chance.
“Our bullpen’s been great the last 10 to 15 games. We had a lot of guys in the pen tonight. So we were able to get Atwood out of there right away,” Holcomb said. “It wasn’t his best night. It’s never good when your starter gives up four or five in the first inning, but Zach threw up zeroes and gave us 94 pitches, which he hasn’t done all year, so it was a great performance to keep us in it.”
The Huskies did their damage in the first with two outs.
Michael Suiter got the ball rolling for Duluth, singling home Keith Curcio, the first of four RBI hits in the inning. The fifth run came home on a wild pitch by Thiac.
But the Cats started chipping away in the second, Jacob Rogers singling home Brad Burcoff and Cory Kay to cut the Huskies lead to 5-2. In the third it was Burcoff with the two-run single off starter Conor Lourey, who wouldn’t last the inning.
After Duluth tacked on another run in the top of the sixth, the Cats bats were at it again in their half of the inning.
Thunder Bay sent nine men to the plate, the first four reaching on singles off former Cats pitcher Thomas Rogers (L, 1-1), ultimately setting the table for a two-run blast by Jason Vosler, his second of the season.
Holcomb said he told his players after the first that no lead is safe in baseball and until the final out was recorded they had a chance.
“The coaching staff just stressed to them we still had eight at bats left and it was still early in the game. They had a pitcher on the mound we felt we could be successful against and anytime you can string a few hits together, just get one or two hits at a time, you’re going to be able to crawl your way back in. Our hitters have done it all year,” Holcomb said.
“I didn’t think we’d do it that quickly or in that fashion, but the hitters were great today.”
The Cats remained 6.5 games behind the Waterloo Bucks, who'll they play on the road on Saturday and Sunday. The Bucks will travel to Thunder Bay for a series that starts on Thursday.
Cat tracks: Every starter scored for Thunder Bay ... Jacob Rogers went 3-for-4 with three RBI ... Attendance was just 469.
