A 6-run first inning helped the Thunder Bay Border Cats cruise past the St. Cloud Rox 13-6 in Thursday’s Pride Night game.

The Cats now sit at 8-9 on the season, good for third in the Great Plains East division.

Thunder Bay walked down the top team in the Northwoods League, handing the first-place Rox their fifth loss on the year. It was a strong bounce-back after a 16-4 defeat to the Wausau Woodchucks the night before.

Everybody in the lineup ate well in the 13-run outing, but left fielder Jacob Poletto (2-for-3, 4 RBI, 2 stolen bases), centre fielder Jorge Valdes (1-for-2, 3 walks, 4 runs, 2 stolen bases) and second basemen Stevie Waters (3-for-4, solo home run) were the standouts.

Waters’ solo shot was the Cats’ second home run of the season.

Reliever Anthony Unga had the best performance on the mound. Unga entered the game in the third and pitched four shutout innings, serving six strikeouts along the way.

Unga has yet to give up an earned run in three appearances.

The Cats and Rox square off again tonight at 6:35.