Wisconsin cools off Chiefs

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers ended the four-game winning streak of the Peoria Chiefs by topping Peoria 7-5 Sunday at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Chris McFarland drove in three runs and Jorge Lopez pitched six solid innings as Wisconsin erased an early deficit with a six-run third inning.

Jordan Walton was at second base with two outs in the top of the second inning for Peoria (29-25). Carson Kelly put the Chiefs in front with a single that drove in Walton. Peoria loaded the bases with another single and a walk. Then, Breyvic Valera singled to drive in two more runs for a 3-0 lead.

Wisconsin (24-28) started their comeback with a run in the bottom of the second inning. McFarland singled with two outs to send Adam Giacalone home and cut the Chiefs lead to two runs.

Then, the Rattlers went from down two to up four thanks to a six run third inning.

The frame started when Tyrone Taylor drew a walk and Michael Reed doubled. Victor Roache scorched a single to center that drove in Taylor. Adam Giacalone grounded into a force play at second base and beat throw to first for an RBI fielder's choice as Reed scored the tying run.

Mike Garza kicked the rally into high gear with a double off the wall in center to send Giacalone to third and Chiefs starting pitcher Hector Hernandez to the showers.

Parker Berberet welcomed reliever Chris Thomas to the game by smacking a single through the drawn in infield to score Giacalone with the go ahead run. McFarland followed with a triple into the left field corner that plated both Garza and Berberet. Alfredo Rodriguez drove in McFarland with a single and the Rattlers were up 7-3.

Lopez, the Timber Rattlers starting pitcher, settled in after the third inning. He tossed six innings and allowed six hits. But only one of those hits came after the third inning. He walked three and struck out two and put the Rattlers in line for the win.

Peoria scored a run in the seventh and in the eighth against reliever Ryan Gibbard. An RBI grounder by Valera in the seventh made the score 7-4 before the stretch. The Chiefs loaded the bases with one out in the eighth inning and got a run on a sacrifice fly by Kelly to make it 7-5.

But, Gibbard worked out of the eighth without further damage and pitched around a two-out single in the ninth to earn his first professional save.

The final game of the four game series is set for Monday afternoon. Preston Gainey (1-4, 6.39) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Silfredo Garcia (1-1, 6.62) is set to start for the Chiefs. Game time is 12:05pm.

Monday is a Qdoba Q*Monday. Purchase a lunch entrée at either Qdoba location in Appleton (3813 E. Calumet Street or 4343 W. Wisconsin Avenue) on Monday and receive a ticket to any Monday home game during the 2013 regular season. 

Plus, Timber Rattlers outfielder Michael Reed is featured on the Dunkin Donuts Player Poster Giveaway on Monday. The first 1,000 fans to attend the game will receive this collectible.

Miller Summer Kickoff continues on Monday, too. Miller products available for $1 while supplies last.

If you can't make it out to the ballpark, tune in on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 11:45am. Monday's game is also available on MiLB.TV.

WP: Jorge Lopez (2-4)
LP: Hector Hernandez (2-2)
SAVE: Ryan Gibbard (1)

TIME: 2:39
ATTN: 3,717