WATERLOO, Iowa – Dozen-run innings are few and far between.
It was no big deal for the Thunder Bay Border Cats on Tuesday night,
The Cats erupted for a dozen runs in the fifth inning against the Waterloo Bucks, breaking open a 2-0 lead en route to a 16-7 win in the third game of their six-game road trip.
Cole Ketzner homered with a man aboard and later doubled, scoring a pair of runs to help contribute to the win.
Ty Brooks’ bat came to life with a 3-for-4 performance, driving in a pair, one of six Thunder Bay batters with two RBI in the contest, a group that also included Ty Hamilton, Zane Skani, Ketzner, Cooper Thomas and Sam Stem.
Cooper finished 4-for-5 with a double and four runs.
The Cats also drew 14 walks and were hit four times by Bucks pitchers.
Max Ramirez threw five shutout innings to pick up the win for Thunder Bay, giving up just two hits and a pair of walks while striking out five.
The Bucks did finally find the scoreboard in the seventh, after the Cats had built up a 16-0 lead.
Cole Smith drove in three runs for Waterloo, who scored five in the eighth off reliever Owen Hindermann.
It was the fifth straight win for Thunder Bay, improving their record to a Great Plains East Division-best 6-1, a half a game a head of Rochester (5-1). The Bucks slipped to 2-5.
Thunder Bay and Waterloo are back in action on Wednesday afternoon and evening, playing a scheduled doubleheader.
