EAU CLAIRE, Wisc. -- A little small ball can go a long way these days.
The Thunder Bay Border Cats used the sacrifice bunt and ran the bases with abandon, breaking open a scoreless tie in the sixth with a pair of runs, and went on to defeat the host Eau Claire Express 3-1 on Monday night.
Tyler Griggs singled to start the sixth and came around to score following a Travis Chestnut bunt, aided by an error by Eau Claire 3B Dylan O'Connell.
Chestnut stole second and third and crossed the plate on a Cole Ketzner groundout, Express starter Isaac Lyon still on the mound.
Evan Hendricks, Billy Humphrey and Tanner Carter held the Eau Claire bats at bay, limiting them to two hits and no runs through seven innings.
Thinder Bay added to their lead in the eighth, Chestnut singling with two outs, stealing second and scoring on Patrick Engskov RBI single, ending Lynn's night.
The Express finally got on the board in the ninth, courtesy of a Jacob Gajic wild pitch, but with the tying run at the plate, the Hamilton native struck out Kaden Galason to end the threat and the ballgame.
Thunder Bay (15-10) I opened a one-game lead over the Express (15-12). The two teams meet again on Tuesday in Eau Claire before heading to Port Arthur Stadium on Wednesday and Thursday for a pair.
The Cats will play 32 first-half games and 36 in the second half. Eau Claire plays 34 in each half.
