South Bend Powers Past Wisconsin 5-3
Published on August 4, 2023 under Midwest League (MWL)
South Bend Cubs News Release
South Bend, IN - The South Bend Cubs now have back-to-back wins in their biggest home series so far in 2023. With home runs from Ezequiel Pagan, as well as Felix Stevens, the Cubs slugged their way to a 5-3 victory over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. South Bend is now just one win away from a series victory this week, and remain just three games back of a playoff spot.
Friday evening at Four Winds Field started with the Timber Rattlers jumping in front quickly against Cubs starter Michael Arias. Robert Moore took a lead-off walk in the 1st, and then he was brought home on an RBI base hit by 2023 Milwaukee Brewers 1st-round pick Brock Wilken.
The Wisconsin advantage did not last though, because the Cubs stormed right back in the bottom of the 3rd. Ethan Hearn started a rally with a single versus Rattlers starter Tyler Woessner, and then Pagan stepped up and drilled a long-ball off the scoreboard in right-center.
As the Cubs took their first lead at 2-1, Arias settled and had had six strikeouts, matching his total from last time out against Peoria on the road. Before Arias finished his outing, one more Wisconsin run came across to tie things up courtesy of a single by Je'Von Ward.
Arias did end the 5th inning while the Timber Rattlers were threatening with two men in scoring position. He punched out Matt Wood on a nasty changeup outside to end the rally.
Tied at 2-2, South Bend would jump back in front thanks to a long-gone solo homer from Stevens. Stretching his hitting streak to 14 consecutive games, Stevens has homered on back-to-back days.
That's when the Cubs took full control of the game. South Bend added two key runs of insurance. One came in the 7th via a Josh Rivera RBI double. The Chicago Cubs 3rd-round pick out of Florida had a three-hit day. In the 8th, it was Christian Franklin doubling home the Cubs fifth run.
All of this was done with right-hander Tyler Santana dominating in three shutout innings of relief. He did not walk a batter, and over his last two outings, he has 6.2 straight scoreless frames.
In the 9th, the Rattlers picked up one more run, but Sheldon Reed locked things down for the save and struck out Eduardo Garcia to finish the game.
The 5-3 victory means the Cubs are a win away from taking back-to-back series against West Division opponents. Both the Beloit Sky Carp and Peoria Chiefs also won on Friday, so South Bend remains three games back of that playoff spot, but they continue to gain ground on the Rattlers.
Game 5 of the series will begin on Saturday night at 7:05 PM. Right-hander Connor Noland will take the start for the Cubs.
Midwest League Stories from August 4, 2023
- Kernels Pick up Double-Digit Hits for the Second Straight Night, Top Lansing 8-5 - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Shutout No. 14 for Sixth Straight Win - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Sky Carp Pound Four Homers in 11-6 Win - Beloit Sky Carp
- Loons Even Series, Put Together 13 Hit Night - Great Lakes Loons
- Pauley Smashes 4th Homer in Last 6 Games, But Tenderloins (TinCaps) Fall in Front of Big Crowd - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- South Bend Powers Past Wisconsin 5-3 - South Bend Cubs
- Dragons Fall to Beloit Despite Huge Night by Mat Nelson - Dayton Dragons
- Chiefs Grind Out Sixth In A Row - Peoria Chiefs
- Rattlers Come Up Short in South Bend - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- TinCaps/Tenderloins Transactions & Game Information: August 4 vs. Great Lakes Loons (LA Dodgers Affiliate) - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Dayton Dragons GameDay Noteset for Friday (7:10 PM Start) - Dayton Dragons
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