Fernández Hits Late Homer to Send Rattlers to Victory

GRAND CHUTE, WI – Eduarqui Fernández hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to send the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers to a 3-1 win over the South Bend Cubs Thursday night at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. The win ended Wisconsin’s eight-game losing streak.

Click here for the boxscore

Postgame Podcast with Russell Smith, Eduarqui Fernandez, & Joe Ayrault

Both teams had chances early. The Cubs (17-13) had a lead-off double in the third and loaded the bases with three straight one-out singles in the fifth. Wisconsin starting pitcher Tyler Woessner escaped the jam both times. The Rattlers ((9-20) had Fernández at third with one out in the third inning. Cubs starter Connor Noland pitched out of trouble and finished his game with five scoreless innings.

South Bend broke through in the top of the sixth inning. Woessner allowed singles with a strikeout sandwiched between them and left the game with one out and runners on first and second. The Rattlers had Justin King to take over on the mound as they called the lefty out of the bullpen.

King got a strikeout of Casey Optiz for the second out, but during that at bat the runners pulled a double steal to put runners on second and third. A wild pitch by King with Liam Spence at the plate allowed the runner from third to score and the Cubs had a 1-0 lead.

In the bottom of the sixth, Wisconsin put runners on first and second with one out against reliever Didier Vargas but couldn’t cash in the runners.

In the bottom of the seventh, Eduardo García and Je’Von Ward started the frame with singles. Vargas got the first out on a grounder to first that pushed both runners into scoring position.

Fernández didn’t start his critical at bat well. He took too long getting ready and was charged with a pitch clock violation that cost him a strike. Vargas pumped another strike past Fernández for an 0-2 count. The next pitch missed for a ball. Then, Fernández didn’t miss the fourth pitch of the sequence. He lined the ball out to left at 106mph for his second home run since joining the Rattlers last week and the Rattlers led 3-1.

FERRNNNNAANDEEZZZ!...😆🔥 #HOMERUN T-Rats take the lead 3 to 1 #tratnation

💨 EXIT VELO: 106mph
📏 DISTANCE: 386ft pic.twitter.com/Aih0PA8fOe

— Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (@TimberRattlers) May 12, 2023

Russell Smith, who struck out the side in order in the top of the seventh went back out for the top of the eighth and retired the Cubs in order and protected the lead. Smith finished his night with five strikeouts.

Fernández was 2-for-3 in the game and made a nice running catch for the first out in the top of the eighth inning.

Kaleb Bowman, who had not pitched in a save opportunity since April 19, took over in the top of the ninth and worked a 1-2-3 frame for his fifth save of the season.

The Timber Rattlers put a "Bo" on it! #trnation #win ⚾️🔥

Timber Rattlers ‘Saves’ are presented by East Wisconsin Savings Bank “ Teaching Kids to save is such a game-changer!” https://t.co/M0CWOJ3BxZ pic.twitter.com/vmWo6dO7VC

— Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (@TimberRattlers) May 12, 2023

Game four of the series is Friday night. Alexander Cornielle (0-1, 5.29) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Richard Gallardo (3-1, 2.32) is set to start for the Cubs. Game time is 6:40pm CDT.

A spooky Timber Rattlers tradition continues with an appearance from Wisconsin Ghostbusters and their ECTO-1 on Friday night! Fans of legal drinking age may purchase Arty’s Supper Club Cocktails for half-price as part of Supper Club Friday with Arty’s and 101.1 WIXX. After the game, children twelve and under may run the bases courtesy of Menasha Corporation.

If you can’t make it out to Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium, the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM starts with the Community Blood Center Pregame Show at 6:20pm. Fans can listen on the radio, on the First Pitch app, or at this link. The internet video feed is available to subscribers of Bally Live, too.