Blaine Hardy, who pitched for the Border Cats in 2008, was promoted to the Detroit Tigers on Sunday. (Photo courtesy of the Detroit Tigers)
Former Border Cats pitcher Blaine Hardy has reached the big leagues. The lefthander was called up by the Detroit Tigers and was in uniform for Sunday's game against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park. Hardy pitched for the Cats during their 2008 NWL Championship season. The 27 year-old from Seattle, WA., appeared in 20 games this year for the Triple "A' Toledo Mud Hens, where he posted a 3-2 record with a 2.68 ERA. He becomes the third Border Cats player to reach the Major Leagues joining Matt Mangini (Seattle Mariners) and Jonathan Diaz (Boston Red Sox & Toronto Blue Jays). Hardy left the Cats in the first month of the 2008 season after he was drafted by Kansas City and signed with the Royals. He attended Lewis and Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho.
CATS DROP PAIR IN MANKATO
Following a rain-out Saturday in Mankato, the Border Cats dropped both ends of a doubleheader Sunday, falling to the MoonDogs 9-4 and 6-3. The MoonDogs blew open the first game with a five-run 3rd inning off starter Ryan Powers, who was making his Cats debut. Powers, who was recenlty selected in the 22nd round of the 2014 MLB Draft by the Philadelphia Philies, pitched two scoreless innings, but ended up departing after the bottom of the 3rd. The 6'5", 230 pound righthander stuck out six, but allowed five runs on five hits and four walks. Robb Paller (Columbia University) had two doubles and a pair of runs scored in the loss. In the second game, Thunder Bay had an early 3-1 lead, but the MoonDogs scored three in the 2nd inning and added two more in the bottom of the 4th. Yuji Suzuki (Concordia University-St. Paul) took the loss giving up four runs over three innings. The Cats managed only three hits with Nick Studer (Doane College) going 1-4 with a double and a run scored. The Toronto native is currently hitting .324. The Cats continue their six-game road trip tonight in Waterloo, Iowa, where they open a two-game set against the Bucks at 7:35pm ET.
