Walk-off homerun sinks Border Cats in Rochester

The Thunder Bay Border Cats were two outs from snapping a four-game losing streak on Wednesday night.

But reliever Devin McLemore (L, 0-2) couldn’t hold the Rochester Honkers offence at bay. McLemore surrendered  a game-winning two-run, walk-off home run to Blaise Lezynski, propelling the Honkers to an 8-6 win that stretched the Cats slide, handing them a fifth consecutive defeat.

A one-out double by Travis Hull one batter earlier erased Thunder Bay’s 6-5 lead.

The Border Cats had battled back from a 4-1 deficit after the first inning, scoring three runs in the third in support of starter Charles Thielmann.

The Cats took a 6-5 lead in the sixth, scoring twice on a wild pitch and catcher error that allowed Kyle Hann and Ty Blankmeyer to cross the plate.

Tyler Lequire and Wes Helsabeck turned in strong relief performances for Thunder Bay (6-17), tossing a combined four innings of three-hit, shutout ball.

Carl Jameson, who pitched a perfect ninth, earned the victory for the Honkers (13-10), coming off a Tuesday night loss to Willmar.

The Cats and Honkers meet again on Thursday. The Border Cats return to Port Arthur Stadium on Friday, when they’ll take on Mankato.