Waterloo, IA – Thunder Bay’s offense put up double digits for the third time in four games but the Bucks’ offense came to play as well. There were five lead changes and it wasn’t over until the very end after the game had gone into extra innings. Both teams combined for over 20 runs and 20 hits but the guests came out on top again by a score of 12-11. With the win, the Border Cats improve to 21-23 including 5-4 in the second half. After dropping their sixth straight, the blue and yellow are now 21-23 overall and 2-7 in the second half of play.
Just like last night, the guests struck first with a four spot in the top of the first but the good guys would get two of those runs back in the third on RBI doubles from both Thomas Lindauer and Benny Roberts. They would get another in the fourth thanks to an RBI groundout from Jordan Adams scoring Dan Sheppard making the score 4-3 in favor of the visitors.
Thunder Bay brought across another in the fifth to make the score 5-3 but the Bucks would gain their first lead in the bottom of the frame on a three-run shot from Sean Borman. That is his fifth home run of the season and Waterloo led the game 6-5 at that point.
The Border Cats would take their lead back the very next inning by scoring five runs and taking a 10-6 advantage.
The Bucks were not done though. In the bottom of the sixth, Freddy Villalobos hit a two-run bomb to make the score 10-8. The next inning, the deficit was cut to one, 10-9 when Kevin Kaczmarski scored on a passed ball. Then with a runner on second, Villalobos again hit a home run (4), this time to give Waterloo an 11-10 lead. The red and black came right back in the top of the eighth when they scored a run on a passed ball. The game then headed into extra innings.
In the top of the tenth, a routine ground ball was hit to Borman with runners on first and second and two outs. Borman had plenty of time but overthrew Adams at first base and a run scored. That is how the score would end up as Thunder Bay took game number four of the five-game series, 12-11.
Neither of the pitching staffs did well as it was all about the bats tonight. Jordan McCoy (1-0) does take the win after pitching two shutout innings to finish the game. Connor Cline (0-1) is the loser after throwing a great two and two thirds innings but gave up the winning run for the Border Cats. That run was unearned while Cline struck out one and walked two.
Villalobos led the way at the plate with three hits, three runs scored and four RBI. In his first game back from an oblique injury, Thomas Lindauer was in the designated hitter spot and was obviously happy to be back. After missing over a week of baseball, the Illinois product was two of six with two doubles, two runs scored and an RBI. Adams also tallied multiple runs scored with two.
In other news, the Bucks waived outfielder Peter Leonello (Long Island) and signed infielder Connor McCallum (Minnesota State).
Next up is the final game of this six-game home stand and five-game set with Thunder Bay. First pitch for Saturday is set for 6:35 p.m. with gates opening at 5:00 p.m. for a happy hour. Keep checking into www.waterloobucks.com for all the latest information on The Cedar Valley’s Home Team.