Cubs score two in eighth to beat Rattlers 4-3

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers could not hang on to a late lead against the South Bend Cubs on Wednesday night at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. The Cubs scored twice in the eighth inning to beat the Timber Rattlers 4-3.

South Bend took the lead in the first inning. Andrew Montaserio started the game with a double and moved to third on a grounder. Wisconsin starting pitcher Zack Brown struck out the next batter and got ahead of Kevonte Mitchell with two quick strikes, but the next pitch was inside and hit Mitchell to extend the inning. Isaac Paredes made Brown pay by lining a single to right-center to score Montaserio.

The Rattlers tied the game in the bottom of the third. Carlos Belonis singled to start the inning. He stole second and went to third on an error with one out, but he was still at third with two outs. Keston Hiura, the #1 pick of the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2017 draft who joined the Timber Rattlers on Wednesday, lined a single up the middle for his first hit as a Rattler and drove in Belonis to even the score 1-1.

The Cubs took a 2-1 lead in the top of the sixth inning with a two-out rally against Brown. DJ Wilson doubled and Chris Pieters followed with a double to drive in Wilson for a 2-1 lead.

Wisconsin responded in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead. Mario Feliciano drew a leadoff walk. Weston Wilson tripled to left with one out to score Feliciano and tie the game. Tucker Neuhaus was next and he pulled a double down the first base line to score Wilson for a 3-2 lead.

There was an opportunity for at least one insurance run for the Rattlers in the bottom of the seventh inning with runners at the corners and one out. They could not knock in a run and the lead stayed at 3-2.

The bullpen and the defense could not hold the lead.

Andrew Vernon, who worked a scoreless seventh inning, gave up a leadoff double to Paredes in the eighth. Daniel Brown relieved Vernon and gave up a bunt single to DJ Wilson that put runners at the corners. But, the Rattlers got the first out of the inning when Weston Wilson pulled the hidden ball trick on DJ Wilson when South Bend's Wilson strayed too far from first. However, there was no trickery to prevent Pieters from driving a single through Wisconsin's drawn-in infield and sending Paredes home with the tying run.

Brown got the second out of the inning, but Luis Ayala extended the inning with a single. Brown got ahead of the next batter only for Pieters to take off for third on an 0-2 pitch. Feliciano's throw to third was late and wild and that allowed Pieters to score the go-ahead run.

The Rattlers did not threaten in the eighth or ninth inning and lost their sixth straight home game. Wisconsin is 16-31 at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium this season.
Game two of the series is Thursday night. Josh Pennington (0-0, 1.29) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. South Bend has named Bryan Hudson (4-3, 4.65) as their starter. Game time is 7:05pm.

Milwaukee Brewers infielder Eric Sogard, who went 0-for-3 on Wednesday night for the Rattlers, is expected to conclude his MLB rehabilitation assignment with Wisconsin tomorrow night.

The Timber Rattlers have picked a different way to celebrate Christmas in July this year. There will still be carols, Santa, and all the Yuletide trappings on Thursday. But, we added something special. We teamed up with Miller Electric for a giveaway based on a Holiday classic. The first 1,000 fans to attend this game will receive a winter cap just like Cousin Eddie wore in Christmas Vacation! 

It is also a Craft Beer & Brats Thursday with Y100. Fans of legal drinking age may enjoy 12-ounce craft beers for $2. Cher-Make brats are also just $2 and they are available for everyone. Beers from Fox River Brewing Company, Badger Club Amber, and many, many more will be available. Present the ticket to this game at World of Beer after the game and receive a free beer there.

If you can't make it out to the ballpark, there are several ways to follow the action. The radio broadcast is on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Potawatomi Hotel & Casino Pregame Show at 6:45pm. The broadcast is also available on TuneIn Radio, IHeartRadio, and MiLB.tv. Thursday's game is also available on Spectrum Sports starting at 7:00pm.