Wisconsin Jumps All Over South Bend in Game Five

APPLETON, WI – The South Bend Cubs saw their three-game winning streak come to an end on Saturday afternoon in a 9-2 drubbing at the hands of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. The Cubs staff had combined allowed just seven runs through the first four games of the six-game series.

Every player in the starting lineup for the Rattlers reached base at least once and five starters picked up multi-hit games.

In the first inning Cubs starter Joe Nahas retired two of the first three batters but allowed the next four to reach with two outs, leading to a three-run frame. He was chased after going just 1.2 innings and allowing five in a row to reach safely in the second inning, resulting in consecutive three spots for Wisconsin.

It was an easy day at the office for Wisconsin from there. Brandon Knarr the crafty lefty, coming off the best start of his career, navigated through six shutout innings and punched out seven batters. Ashton McGee added an RBI single in the fifth to increase the Cubs deficit to 7-0.

A Zavier Warren solo homer in the eighth, followed later in the frame by a Carlos Rodriguez two-out RBI single gave the Cubs their biggest deficit of the season at 9-0.

South Bend did strike for two runs on a bases-clearing double in the ninth from Fabian Pertuz but the 9-2 final still resulted in the biggest loss of the season for the Cubs, who came in a season-high nine games over .500.

Dider Vargas shined in relief for the road side, grinding through 4.1 innings and allowing just one run. On the offensive side Jordan Nwogu, Owen Caissie, and Fabian Pertuz all connected on multiple hits.

Jake Washer's 13-game hitting streak, the longest streak at the high-A level, came to an end but he did reach base via a walk.

The Cubs lead the series 3-2 and can clinch their third series victory in a row with a win on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 2:10 ET.