Appleton, WI - Despite a 4-3 loss for the South Bend Cubs Tuesday night to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers to open up this week’s six-game series, team history is the big storyline. Chicago Cubs number-one prospect Josiah Hartshorn launched his 16th home run with South Bend this season, breaking the team record (since 2015) for the most by a Cubs player in a single Midwest League season. With the homer, Hartshorn also raked in his 100th RBI of the season, between Low-A Myrtle Beach and High-A South Bend.
The game started with the Cubs lead-off man Hartshorn facing a rehabbing Milwaukee Brewers pitcher on the mound, as lefty JoJo Romero started the game for the ‘Rattlers. The southpaw, who was acquired at the trade deadline by Milwaukee from the St. Louis Cardinals, made his Brewers organization debut against the Cubs. He has not pitched for Milwaukee since being traded due to injury. Romero worked a scoreless inning, and walked Jose Escobar.
Jostin Florentino got the start for the Cubs, as the usual Tuesday man for South Bend was back out there to start the series. After striking out the first man he faced, Florentino gave up three straight hits to the ‘Rattlers in the 1st inning, including a two-run double by Eric Bitonti to give Wisconsin the lead.
For the rest of the night, South Bend would consistently be clawing back chasing the lead. In the 2nd, Wisconsin would send another Brewers rehabbing pitcher to the mound, Milwaukee closer Abner Uribe. Romero was limited to his single inning, and Uribe also tossed a singular frame of his own. Uribe walked Brennan Hudson, but besides that displayed high-powered stuff, topping out with his sinker at 99 miles-per-hour.
The two Milwaukee rehabbers got their work done, and expected Wisconsin starter Josh Knoth took the mound to begin the 3rd inning. South Bend got to Knoth right away, literally, as his first pitch was crushed out of the park by Alexey Lumpuy to cut it to a 2-1 game. The Cubs then took advantage of some poor Wisconsin defense, with Justin Stransky doubling to left field on a ball that could have been caught, and Hartshorn reaching on an error. With two on, Angel Cepeda tied the game at 2-2 on a sac-fly RBI.
South Bend came in contention of the lead multiple times, but in the 5th, left runners at second and third base. In a game changing moment, Wisconsin took the 3-2 lead in the next-half inning.
The backbreaker was a solo home run by Tyler Rodriguez in the bottom of the 7th, like the one the Cubs hit in the 3rd, on the first pitch of the inning.
The 4-2 deficit would be too much for South Bend to fully come back from, but Hartshorn got it closer with his solo homer in the 8th. Hartshorn’s 16th homer with South Bend since May 26 is the most by a South Bend Cubs player in a single Midwest League season (since 2015). Hartshorn passed Yonathan Perlaza, who had 15 in 2021, and Jordan Nwogu, who had the same in 2022. It was his 21st total home run this season, and he now has 100 RBI total this year.
Per MLB Pipeline, Hartshorn joins Matt Mervis, who was the most recent Cubs Minor Leaguer to hit the triple-digit mark with 119 in 2022. Mervis started his 2022 season in South Bend. Kris Bryant had 110 RBI in 2014, and Javier Baez had 111 in 2013.
South Bend left two baserunners on to end the 8th, and in the 9th, were unable to rally. Wisconsin held on for the 4-3 victory.
With the loss, South Bend still owns the Midwest League’s best record at 69-48 on the season. They’ll look to even the series on Wednesday night when the two West Division rivals get together again at 7:40 PM EST. Right-hander Brayden Spears will make his first Midwest League start, after pitching out of the South Bend bullpen in his first 21 appearances of the campaign.