Yelich, Hiura HR in 10th off Kimbrel, Brewers beat Cubs 5-3
By JIM HOEHN Associated Press
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Christian Yelich and Keston Hiura hit home runs in the 10th inning off Cubs closer Craig Kimbrel and the Milwaukee Brewers rallied past Chicago 5-3 on Saturday night.
Yelich opened the 10th with his major league-leading 36th homer, tying it at 3. Pinch-hitter Tyler Saladino drew a walk from Kimbrel (0-2) and Hiura followed with his 11th homer and first career walk-off.
Albert Almora Jr. had put the Cubs up 3-2 when he opened the top of the 10th with his 11th homer, connecting against Freddy Peralta (5-3).
The Brewers and Cubs are one game behind the NL Central-leading Cardinals.
Hiura doubled home the tying run in the eighth when the Brewers erased a 2-0 deficit. Ben Gamel opened the inning with a pinch-hit homer off Steve Cishek, Lorenzo Cain followed with a double and scored on Hiura’s double.
The Cubs avoided wasting a superb outing by Jon Lester, making his 400th career start, who allowed just four singles over seven scoreless innings.
Anthony Rizzo staked the Cubs to a 2-0 lead with his 21st homer, a two-run shot in the third off Chase Anderson after Willson Contreras was hit by a pitch. Rizzo, who grounded out in the first, entered hitting .048 against Anderson with one hit in 21 career at-bats.
The Brewers briefly appeared to tie it in the sixth when Huira’s drive near the left-field foul pole initially was ruled a home run with Yelich aboard.
Umpires conferred on the field and ruled it foul. Video replays showed the ball barely passing to the left of the foul pole.
ZOBRIST EYEING RETURN
OF-IF Ben Zobrist, on the restricted list since May 8 to deal with a family matter, has begun the process of returning to the team. “From the beginning, it’s been all about him and his family. It still is. So, whatever he wants to do, whatever he says he wants to do, we’ve been very much in the listening mode,” manager Joe Maddon said. Wednesday. “Zo is not going to beat around the bush. He’s not going to give you a bunch of smoke screen. He’s going to tell you exactly what’s going on.” Zobrist was hitting .241 in 26 games when he left the team. He hit .305 last season.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Cubs: IF Daniel Descalso was placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to July 24, with a sprained left ankle. LHP Derek Holland, acquired Friday from San Francisco, was added to the active roster. He got one out in the eighth.
Brewers: The status of LHP Gio Gonzalez, who left Friday night’s game in the seventh inning with shoulder tightness, still is uncertain. “Gio reported today with soreness,” manager Craig Counsell said. “I don’t think we’re going to have an answer for a couple of days on this one. I think there’s a chance he makes his next start still. He’s not going to throw today anyway. Just get treatment today. As he starts to throw, then we’ll have an idea.”
UP NEXT
Cubs: LHP Jose Quintana (8-7, 4.42 ERA) allowed eight runs in three innings in a 13-10 loss at Milwaukee in April. Before that, however, had a 1.55 ERA in six career starts at Miller Park.
Brewers: RHP Zach Davies (8-3, 3.17 ERA) is coming off his worst start, allowing seven runs in four innings in 14-6 loss vs. Cincinnati. He’s 1-0 vs. Cubs this season, allowing one earned run in 12 innings.
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