Neither the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers or Peoria Chiefs offenses got out to fast starts in the season-opening game between the teams at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium on Friday night.  The Chiefs took advantage of some Wisconsin miscues to score two runs in the third inning for a 2-1 win.

The Timber Rattlers (0-1) grabbed the lead in the first inning thanks to a bout of wildness from Peoria starting pitcher Cooper Hjerpe.  Hjerpe walked Dylan O’Rae to start the first, struck out the next two batters, but issued a walk and hit a batter to load the bases.  Matt Wood worked the count to 3-2 before drawing another walk to force in O’Rae with the first run of the season.

Hjerpe was removed from the game after that walk and Wilfredo Pereira escaped the jam with a strikeout to leave the bases loaded.

The Chiefs (1-0) broke through in the third inning against Wisconsin starter Brett Wichrowski.  Joshua Baez reached on an infield single and stole second to start the inning.  He would move to third on a grounder.

Won-Bin Cho followed with a flyball to left near the line.  Left fielder Jheremy Vargas raced over to make the catch but dropped the ball.  Baez scored and Cho reached on the play.  Cho stole second, stole third, and scored on a throwing error to give the Chiefs the lead.

Wisconsin could do almost nothing against the Peoria bullpen.  Pereira walked one and struck out six over 3-1/3 innings.  He gave up a lead-off walk to Eduarqui Fernández in the second and a lead-off single to Wood in the fourth.  Wood’s hit was Wisconsin’s only one of the evening.

Cade Winquest finished the game for Peoria with five scoreless, hitless innings for the save.  He also had six strikeouts while walking two.  Wood drew both walks one with two outs in the sixth and another with two outs in the ninth.

Wisconsin’s relievers held the line to keep the offense in the game.  Aaron Rund allowed one hit and one walk in one inning.  Brian Fitzpatrick tossed four no-hit innings with a walk and three strikeouts.  Craig Yoho pitched around a single and a walk with three strikeouts in the ninth inning.

The loss snapped Wisconsin’s four-game winning streak on home openers.

The teams combined to steal eight bases.  The Chiefs were 5-for-6 on stolen base attempts.  Wisconsin was 3-for-3 on steals for the evening.

Game two of the series is Saturday afternoon.  Alexander Cornielle is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers.  Peoria has named Hancel Rincon as their starter.  Game time is 1:10pm.