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Cubs hit three home runs and stifle late Brewers rally in series-tying 6-5 win

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Cubs hit three home runs and stifle late Brewers rally in series-tying 6-5 win
Sport

Sport

Cubs hit three home runs and stifle late Brewers rally in series-tying 6-5 win

2024-05-05 06:09 Last Updated At:06:10

CHICAGO (AP) — Nico Hoerner hit his first career lead-off home run, Christopher Morel hit his third homer in as many games and Patrick Wisdom sent one into the stands as the Chicago Cubs beat the Milwaukee Brewers 6-5 on Saturday.

“Our offense has been a little quiet lately obviously,” said Cubs manager Craig Counsell. “Christopher’s in a stretch right now. The homers, I think for most guys, come in bunches, and he’s had a good week.”

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Milwaukee Brewers' Jackson Chourio swings into a single off Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jameson Taillon during the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

CHICAGO (AP) — Nico Hoerner hit his first career lead-off home run, Christopher Morel hit his third homer in as many games and Patrick Wisdom sent one into the stands as the Chicago Cubs beat the Milwaukee Brewers 6-5 on Saturday.

Chicago Cubs' Christopher Morel celebrates his two-run home run off Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Tobias Myers during the third inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Chicago Cubs' Christopher Morel celebrates his two-run home run off Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Tobias Myers during the third inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Milwaukee Brewers pitching coach Chris Hook, right, talks to catcher William Contreras as Willy Adames, left, and Tobias Myers listen during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Milwaukee Brewers pitching coach Chris Hook, right, talks to catcher William Contreras as Willy Adames, left, and Tobias Myers listen during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Chicago Cubs' Patrick Wisdom, right, celebrates his home run off Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Thyago Vieira with third base coach Willie Harris during the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Chicago Cubs' Patrick Wisdom, right, celebrates his home run off Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Thyago Vieira with third base coach Willie Harris during the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Milwaukee Brewers' Blake Perkins, right, is hugged in the dugout by Andruw Monasterio after Perkins' two-run home run in the seventh inning of a baseball game Chicago Cubs Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Milwaukee Brewers' Blake Perkins, right, is hugged in the dugout by Andruw Monasterio after Perkins' two-run home run in the seventh inning of a baseball game Chicago Cubs Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Milwaukee Brewers' Rhys Hoskins is greeted in the dugout after scoring on Oliver Dunn's triple in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Milwaukee Brewers' Rhys Hoskins is greeted in the dugout after scoring on Oliver Dunn's triple in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Chicago Cubs' Patrick Wisdom hits an RBI single off Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Bryan Hudson during the eighth inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Chicago Cubs' Patrick Wisdom hits an RBI single off Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Bryan Hudson during the eighth inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Héctor Neris celebrates after the last out of the team's 6-5 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in a baseball game Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Héctor Neris celebrates after the last out of the team's 6-5 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in a baseball game Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Héctor Neris celebrates after the last out of the team's 6-5 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in a baseball game Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Héctor Neris celebrates after the last out of the team's 6-5 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in a baseball game Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Chicago tied its first divisional series of the year at one apiece in Counsell’s first series against his former team. Brewers manager Pat Murphy also returned to the dugout after serving a two-game suspension for his role in a brawl with Tampa Bay on Tuesday.

Milwaukee came within one twice late in the game. When Chicago’s Keegan Thompson replaced starter Jameson Taillon (3-0), up 4-0 after six strong innings, he walked Rhys Hoskins. Then Oliver Dunn hit a triple that sent Hoskins home. Blake Perkins homered the next at-bat.

Jackson Chourio singled before Counsell brought in Mark Leiter Jr. Sal Frelick then doubled on a ground ball to Mike Tauchman who tossed Dansby Swanson a tough throw he couldn’t collect. Chourio rounded the bases on the error, making the score 4-5.

Leiter cleaned it up in the eighth and Wisdom hit an RBI single in the bottom of the inning that sent Michael Busch home from third.

“I just shortened up the swing, wanted to put something in the middle of the field, and I was able to put the bat on the ball there in a big spot,” Wisdom said. “Every run is important but especially late in the game.”

Héctor Neris came in to pitch the ninth inning and walked Blake Perkins. An RBI single by William Contreras scored Perkins to bring the score within one again. With the winning run on second, Tyler Black grounded into a forceout to end the game, sealing Neris’ sixth save of the season.

“He’s been in every big spot, he’s had the bases loaded, he’s pitched on the road in tough spots, he’s pitched in the playoffs,” Taillon said of Neris. “He’s confident, and there’s definitely no panic.”

Taillon gave up two hits and two walks while striking out seven over six innings. The righty has now allowed one earned run or fewer in four straight starts.

“He’s really in control and his command is excellent,” Counsell said. “I thought he did a wonderful job with the running game today, and just executing multiple pitches.”

Brewers starting pitcher Tobias Myers (0-2) allowed four runs on three hits and walked four over three innings for the loss.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cubs: CF Cody Bellinger and RF Seiya Suzuki participated in hitting and defensive drills pregame, and Counsell said returns from the 10-day injured list next week are “realistic” for them both. Bellinger sustained two fractured ribs trying to make a catch into Wrigley Field’s brick wall April 24, while Suzuki suffered a right oblique strain running out a ground ball to first on April 14. “They’re both largely in the same spot,” Counsell said. “I think we’ve got a chance to be without a rehab assignment. It’s likely Seiya does one, a very short one. I think Bellinger, maybe not.”

Brewers: LF Joey Wiemer was placed on the 10-day IL with knee discomfort. Wiemer exited Friday’s game against the Cubs after injuring his left knee trying to catch a ball in left field.

UP NEXT

RHP Javier Assad (2-0, 1.97 ERA) will take the mound Sunday for the Cubs in search of his first win since April 14 against Seattle. The Brewers will start RHP Freddy Peralta (3-0, 3.21), who has appealed a five-game suspension he received for his role in Milwaukee’s brawl against the Rays on Tuesday. Peralta is permitted to play as long as the appeal process isn’t completed before his scheduled appearance.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Milwaukee Brewers' Jackson Chourio swings into a single off Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jameson Taillon during the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Milwaukee Brewers' Jackson Chourio swings into a single off Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jameson Taillon during the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Chicago Cubs' Christopher Morel celebrates his two-run home run off Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Tobias Myers during the third inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Chicago Cubs' Christopher Morel celebrates his two-run home run off Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Tobias Myers during the third inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Milwaukee Brewers pitching coach Chris Hook, right, talks to catcher William Contreras as Willy Adames, left, and Tobias Myers listen during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Milwaukee Brewers pitching coach Chris Hook, right, talks to catcher William Contreras as Willy Adames, left, and Tobias Myers listen during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Chicago Cubs' Patrick Wisdom, right, celebrates his home run off Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Thyago Vieira with third base coach Willie Harris during the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Chicago Cubs' Patrick Wisdom, right, celebrates his home run off Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Thyago Vieira with third base coach Willie Harris during the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Milwaukee Brewers' Blake Perkins, right, is hugged in the dugout by Andruw Monasterio after Perkins' two-run home run in the seventh inning of a baseball game Chicago Cubs Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Milwaukee Brewers' Blake Perkins, right, is hugged in the dugout by Andruw Monasterio after Perkins' two-run home run in the seventh inning of a baseball game Chicago Cubs Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Milwaukee Brewers' Rhys Hoskins is greeted in the dugout after scoring on Oliver Dunn's triple in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Milwaukee Brewers' Rhys Hoskins is greeted in the dugout after scoring on Oliver Dunn's triple in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Chicago Cubs' Patrick Wisdom hits an RBI single off Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Bryan Hudson during the eighth inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Chicago Cubs' Patrick Wisdom hits an RBI single off Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Bryan Hudson during the eighth inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Héctor Neris celebrates after the last out of the team's 6-5 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in a baseball game Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Héctor Neris celebrates after the last out of the team's 6-5 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in a baseball game Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Héctor Neris celebrates after the last out of the team's 6-5 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in a baseball game Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Héctor Neris celebrates after the last out of the team's 6-5 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in a baseball game Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A divisive mobilization law in Ukraine came into force on Saturday, as Kyiv struggles to boost troop numbers after Russia launched a new offensive that some fear could close in on Ukraine’s second-largest city.

The legislation, which was watered down from its original draft, will make it easier to identify every conscript in the country. It also provides incentives to soldiers, such as cash bonuses or money toward buying a house or car, that some analysts say Ukraine cannot afford.

Lawmakers dragged their feet for months and only passed the law in mid-April, a week after Ukraine lowered the age for men who can be drafted from 27 to 25. The measures reflect the growing strain that more than two years of war with Russia has had on Ukraine’s forces, who are trying to hold the front lines in fighting that has sapped the country’s ranks and stores of weapons and ammunition.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also signed two other laws Friday, allowing prisoners to join the army and increasing fines for draft dodgers fivefold. Russia enlisted its prisoners early on in the war, and personnel shortages compelled Ukraine to adopt the new, controversial measures.

Oleksii, 68, who runs a car repair shop in Kyiv, worries his business will have to shut down as he expects 70% of his workers will be mobilized. He asked that only his first name be used to allow him to speak freely.

“With the new law, people will be mobilized and we will have to shut down and stop paying taxes,” Oleksii told The Associated Press on Saturday. He said it's very difficult to replace workers because of their specialized skills. Most of them are already in the armed forces, he said, adding that the law is “unfair” and “unclear.”

Even essential municipal services will be affected. Viktor Kaminsky, the head of a municipal service department in Kyiv that fits households with heating and repairs utilities in public buildings, said he will struggle to replace mobilized staff and meet demand, even though the law allows him to retain half of workers deemed fit for service.

He said 60 of the 220 people working in Kaminsky's department will be eligible to be called up. “If they take 30 people from what we have, the problem is we don’t have anyone to replace them," he said.

“There are pros and cons to this law,” Kaminsky said. “It's hard to avoid the mobilization process now, compared to before when people were trying to get around it.” But, he said, it would be better if essential workers like his were granted more exemptions.

Ukraine has struggled for months to replenish depleted forces, as Russian troops are pushing ahead with a ground offensive that opened a new front in the northeast and put further pressure on Kyiv’s overstretched military. After weeks of probing, Moscow launched the new push knowing that Ukraine suffered personnel shortages, and that its forces have been spread thin in the northeastern Kharkiv region.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday during a visit to China that the Russian push aims to create “a buffer zone” rather than capturing Kharkiv, the local capital and Ukraine’s second-largest city.

Still, Moscow’s forces have pummeled Kharkiv with strikes in recent weeks, hitting civilian and energy infrastructure and prompting angry accusations from Zelenskyy that the Russian leadership sought to reduce the city to rubble. On Friday, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said that Russian guided bombs killed at least three residents and injured 28 others that day.

Moscow denies deliberately targeting civilians, but thousands have died or suffered injuries in the more than 27 months of fighting.

The U.S. last week announced a new $400 million package of military aid for Ukraine, and President Joe Biden has promised that he would rush badly needed weaponry to the country to help it stave off Russian advances. Still, only small batches of U.S. military aid have started to trickle into the front line, according to Ukrainian military commanders, who said it will take at least two months before supplies meet Kyiv’s needs to hold the line.

Rusyn is the head of recruitment for the 3rd Assault Brigade, one of the most popular among Ukrainian volunteers. He told AP that he saw a 15% increase in men joining the brigade, which fights in eastern Ukraine, in the past months. Most recruits are aged between 23-25, he said. For security reasons, he and his recruits asked to be identified by their call signs only.

“There is no alternative (to mobilization),” said Rohas, a 26-year old recruit. “One way or another, I believe that most men will end up in the ranks of the armed forces and by joining as a volunteer, you still get some preferences.”

“Those who are afraid of being mobilized are not the ones hostage to this situation, it's those (soldiers) who are standing in formations of three where there should be 10. Those guys are hostages to this situation and they should be replaced, so that’s why we are here," Rohas said.

Many Ukrainians have fled the country to avoid the draft since Russia’s all-out invasion in February 2022.

The Supreme Court last month said that 930 people were convicted of avoiding mobilization in 2023, a fivefold increase from the previous year.

Around 768,000 Ukrainian men aged 18-64 had been granted temporary protection in European Union countries as of last November, according to data from the bloc's statistical agency, Eurostat.

Kyiv has barred men under 60 from leaving the country since the start of the war, but some are exempt, including those who are disabled or have three or more dependents. The Eurostat data does not specify how many of the men who have qualified for protection belong to these categories, nor how many others reached the EU from Ukraine's Russian-occupied territories in the east and south.

Unable to cross the border legally, some Ukrainian men risk death trying to swim across a river that separates Ukraine from neighboring Romania and Hungary.

Late on Friday, Ukraine’s border service said that at least 30 people have died trying to cross the Tisza River since the full scale-invasion.

Romanian border guards days earlier retrieved the near-naked, disfigured body of a man that appeared to have been floating in the Tisza for days, and is the 30th known casualty, the Ukrainian agency said in an online statement. It said the man has not yet been identified.

Kozlowska reported from London. Associated Press writer Alex Babenko in Kyiv, Ukraine contributed to this report.

——

Follow AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

Newly recruited soldiers of the 3rd assault brigade train in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, May 17, 2024. A divisive mobilisation law in Ukraine came into force on Saturday, as Kyiv struggles to boost troop numbers after Russia launched a new offensive. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Newly recruited soldiers of the 3rd assault brigade train in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, May 17, 2024. A divisive mobilisation law in Ukraine came into force on Saturday, as Kyiv struggles to boost troop numbers after Russia launched a new offensive. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Newly recruited soldiers of the 3rd assault brigade train in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, May 17, 2024. A divisive mobilisation law in Ukraine came into force on Saturday, as Kyiv struggles to boost troop numbers after Russia launched a new offensive. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Newly recruited soldiers of the 3rd assault brigade train in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, May 17, 2024. A divisive mobilisation law in Ukraine came into force on Saturday, as Kyiv struggles to boost troop numbers after Russia launched a new offensive. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

A newly recruited soldier of the 3rd assault brigade trains, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, May 17, 2024. A divisive mobilisation law in Ukraine came into force on Saturday, as Kyiv struggles to boost troop numbers after Russia launched a new offensive. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

A newly recruited soldier of the 3rd assault brigade trains, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, May 17, 2024. A divisive mobilisation law in Ukraine came into force on Saturday, as Kyiv struggles to boost troop numbers after Russia launched a new offensive. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Newly recruited soldiers of the 3rd assault brigade train in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, May 17, 2024. A divisive mobilisation law in Ukraine came into force on Saturday, as Kyiv struggles to boost troop numbers after Russia launched a new offensive. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Newly recruited soldiers of the 3rd assault brigade train in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, May 17, 2024. A divisive mobilisation law in Ukraine came into force on Saturday, as Kyiv struggles to boost troop numbers after Russia launched a new offensive. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Newly recruited soldiers of the 3rd assault brigade train in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, May 17, 2024. A divisive mobilisation law in Ukraine came into force on Saturday, as Kyiv struggles to boost troop numbers after Russia launched a new offensive. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Newly recruited soldiers of the 3rd assault brigade train in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, May 17, 2024. A divisive mobilisation law in Ukraine came into force on Saturday, as Kyiv struggles to boost troop numbers after Russia launched a new offensive. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Oleksii, 68, director of the auto repair shop poses for photo in Kyiv region, Ukraine, Saturday, May 18, 2024. A divisive mobilisation law in Ukraine came into force on Saturday, as Kyiv struggles to boost troop numbers after Russia launched a new offensive. (AP Photo/Alex Babenko)

Oleksii, 68, director of the auto repair shop poses for photo in Kyiv region, Ukraine, Saturday, May 18, 2024. A divisive mobilisation law in Ukraine came into force on Saturday, as Kyiv struggles to boost troop numbers after Russia launched a new offensive. (AP Photo/Alex Babenko)

A newly recruited soldier of the 3rd assault brigade trains, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, May 17, 2024. A divisive mobilisation law in Ukraine came into force on Saturday, as Kyiv struggles to boost troop numbers after Russia launched a new offensive. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

A newly recruited soldier of the 3rd assault brigade trains, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, May 17, 2024. A divisive mobilisation law in Ukraine came into force on Saturday, as Kyiv struggles to boost troop numbers after Russia launched a new offensive. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Smoke rises after a Russian attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Friday, May 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Smoke rises after a Russian attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Friday, May 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

People walk on a street while smoke rises after a Russian attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Friday, May 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

People walk on a street while smoke rises after a Russian attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Friday, May 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Foreign journalists report from an observation point while smoke rises after a Russian attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Friday, May 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Foreign journalists report from an observation point while smoke rises after a Russian attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Friday, May 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

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