ST. CLOUD, Minn. – The Thunder Bay Border Cats couldn’t escape St. Cloud, Minn. soon enough.
A night after being drubbed 17-3, the Northwoods League club were torched for nine more at the hands of the host St. Cloud Rox, dropping a 9-3 decision for their second straight defeat.
Landon Stephens homered and drove in three runs for the Rox (18-11), who snapped a 1-1 tie with a run in the fourth, then added runs in each of the next four-innings to pull out the win.
Jordan Larson drove in a pair for Thunder Bay (11-18), doubling off reliever Max Rippl in the seventh to score Ryne Edmondson and Andrew Shebloski.
Justin Simanek gave up one run on three hits over five innings to pick up the win, his first of the season. Thunder Bay starter Trent Valentine drew the loss, despite allowing just two runs on three hits and four walks in four innings of work.
The Cats managed just four hits on the night.
Thunder Bay heads to Duluth on Thursday to take on the last-place Huskies (11-19), who were on the wrong end of a record-setting 21-0 shutout at the hands of the Bismarck Larks on Wednesday night.
