Streak ends

All good things must eventually come to an end.

The Thunder Bay Border Cats, riding a franchise-record eight-game winning streak, including four in a row against Mankato to close a seven-game home-stand, stuck with the Moondogs through nine innings Wednesday night at Port Arthur Stadium. But once the 10th rolled around, the Cats ran out of steam.

Shortstop Chris Munoz, jeered for two straight nights by the Section 2 faithful for his less-than-stellar play in the field, slammed a double off Border Cats designated hitter-turned reliever Jerrick Suiter with one out in the extra frame, breaking a 1-1 tie and ensuring the Moondogs losing streak would end at six.

David Andriese followed with a single of his own that scored Munoz to make it 3-1, a score that would hold up when Matt Marsh took the mound with two Cats on and no outs in the bottom half of the 10th inning, recording outs from all three batters he faced.
“It was a good game, going into extras and everything,” said Border Cats starter Blake Fonfara, after a seven-inning, five-hit, one-run performance that went for naught.

“Sometimes you don’t click on all cylinders, but it was a good game overall, I think.”

Putting the loss behind them is paramount for the Cats (13-12), who trail Willmar by three games in the Northwoods League’s North Division, with just 10 games to go in regular-season play.

It’s something Fonfara is convinced the Cats can do, facing six straight games on the road against Rochester and St. Cloud.

“I think we’re still hot, so if we can get the bats going again tomorrow, I think we’ll have a good chance of winning,” Fonfara said.
It was a game that whizzed by in rapid fashion, as Fonfara and Mankato starter Adam Mott rarely found themselves in trouble in the early innings.

Mott, who gave up six hits in nine innings to earn the win, was the first to falter, surrendering a sixth-inning lead-off single to Omar Cotto that eventually cost him when Suiter chopped a grounder to second, allowing Cotto to coast home from third.

The Moondogs (11-14) got it back in the seventh on an Alex Wise single that plated David Andriese, who Fonrara hit with two strikes to start the inning.

It could have been much worse, if not for Cotto’s wheels and the best Willie Mays impression Thunder Bay fans have seen in years.
Chase Simpson blasted a drive to deep centre, a sure-fire double that somehow Cotto managed to outrun, snaring it before it left a dent in the outfield wall.

“Off the bat I thought it was going to be an easy double and then it kept on carrying. I thought I had a chance and I went for it. There’s really not much to say,” said Cotto, one of two Thunder Bay runners picked off first base on the night, his mistake coming with one out in the third.

Phillip Lyons was caught leaning too far after walking to start the ninth.

“Anytime you give them outs on the bases it makes it easier,” Cats manager Andy Judkins said. “It takes the pressure off their guys. I was just talking to their manager and he said he hates facing our first three guys. So it’s tough when you give them outs.”

Chad Richie took over from Fonfara in the eighth and pitched the Border Cats into extra innings, but as the 10th rolled around Judkins rolled the dice and called on Suiter to keep the Moondogs bats silent.

It worked for one batter, then disaster struck.

Audie Afenir and Chad Christensen had back-to-back singles, paving the way for Munoz’s heroics.

Claw marks: Jesse Holiday and Jacob Dorris combined Tuesday to throw a no-hitter, as La Crosse thumped Madison 10-0 in South Division play … Attendance was 1,051 … Mankato ‘s Simpson is likely facing a suspension after bumping home-plate umpire Justin Houser after disagreeing on a called third strike call in the ninth.