Don’t check in late for Cubs-Brewers NLDS decider. This series is all about the first inning | National Sports

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Working as a starting pitcher in the NL Division Series between the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers has been one tough job.

Twenty-one of the 35 runs in the series have been scored in the first inning. The series concludes Saturday night with a winner-take-all Game 5 to determine which of these NL Central rivals will face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Championship Series.

kAm“x E9:?< :E’D H2J >@C6 4@>>@? E92? J@F E9:?<[ 7@C A:E496CD E@ 36 GF=?6C23=6 😕 E96 7:CDE :??:?8[” qC6H6CD >2?286C !2E |FCA9J D2:5 uC:52J] “tG6CJ3@5J’D 866<65 FA] %96 2E>@DA96C6 😀 H2J 5:776C6?E] p?5 x E9:?< E92E’D D@>6E9:?8 E92E 😀 ?@E65]”k^Am

kAmq@E9 E62>D H:== 92G6 C6=:6G6CD DE2CE:?8 $2EFC52JVD 82>6 2D @A6?6CD]k^Am

kAm%96 rF3D 2??@F?465 E92E =67E\92?56C sC6H !@>6C2?K H@F=5 DE2CE v2>6 d] %96 qC6H6CD 2C6 EFC?:?8 E@ C:89E\92?56C %C6G@C |68:==[ E96:C p==\$E2C 4=@D6C]k^Am

kAm}6:E96C 7:8FC6D E@ 8@ G6CJ 566A :?E@ E96 82>6j 3@E9 E62>D A=2? E@ FD6 D6G6C2= A:E496CD]k^Am

kAm“(:E9 E96 6I46AE:@? @7 Wv2>6 c DE2CE6CX |2EE q@J5[ 6G6CJ@?6’D 8@:?8 E@ 36 2G2:=23=6[” rF3D >2?286C rC2:8 r@F?D6== D2:5 uC:52J] “p?5 D@ :E’D 2 4=:49é 96C6[ 3FE H6 92G6 “ A:E496CD E@ 7:8FC6 @FE 9@H E@ 86E af @FED] %92E’D 9@H H6’C6 EC62E:?8 :E]”k^Am

kAm!@>6C2?K H6?E a\a H:E9 2 a]`f t#p 😕 df C68F=2C\D62D@? 2AA62C2?46D[ H:E9 db @7 E96> 4@>:?8 😕 C6=:67] w6 92D DECF4< @FE 7:G6 H:E9@FE 2==@H:?8 2?J 9:ED @C H2=

kAmw6 92D A:E4965 @?6 :??:?8 😕 6249 @7 E96 =2DE E9C66 82>6D @7 E9:D D6C:6D] !@>6C2?K H2D E96 H:??:?8 A:E496C 😕 v2>6 b @? (65?6D52J]k^Am

kAm%96 rF3D 925 E96 @AE:@? @7 EFC?:?8 E@ v2>6 a =@D6C $9@E2 x>2?282 @? 7@FC 52JD’ C6DE[ 3FE 96 A@DE65 2 e]d` t#p 😕 $6AE6>36C 2?5 92D 2==@H65 D:I CF?D @G6C e a^b :??:?8D 😕 EH@ 2AA62C2?46D E9:D A@DED62D@?]k^Am

kAm|68:== H6?E e\b H:E9 b_ D2G6D 2?5 2 a]ch t#p 😕 d_ C6=:67 2AA62C2?46D 5FC:?8 E96 C68F=2C D62D@?] w6 DA6?E 2 >@?E9 @? E96 :?;FC65 =:DE H:E9 2 DEC2:?65 C:89E 7=6I@C 367@C6 C6EFC?:?8 E@ A:E49 😕 E96 qC6H6CDV C68F=2C\D62D@? 7:?2=6]k^Am

kAm|68:== 92D A:E4965 😕 EH@ 82>6D E9:D D6C:6D] w6 C6E:C65 E96 @?=J EH@ 32EE6CD 96 72465 😕 v2>6 a 2?5 A:E4965 @?6\E9:C5 @7 2? :??:?8 H9:=6 2==@H:?8 2 9:E 2?5 2 H2=< 😕 v2>6 c]k^Am

kAm|:=H2F<66 4@F=5 FD6 2 D:>:=2C 2AAC@249 E@ :ED v2>6 a DEC2E68J[ H96? D6G6? 5:776C6?E A:E496CD 4@?EC:3FE65 E@ 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^4F3D\3C6H6CD\D4@C6\49@FC:@\>:D:@C@HD<:\>=3\A=2J@77D\b_cfccg2`72244e_db2_354_3_`4eeh_Qmf\b G:4E@CJ]k^2m |FCA9J ?@E65 E92E p2C@? pD93J H@F=5 36 2G2:=23=6 27E6C E9C@H:?8 ba A:E496D 😕 E96 qC6H6CDV k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^3C6H6CD\4F3D\D4@C6\>=3\A@DED62D@?\6ghd_bd`aefb_3hh4a62_7_bbbh76625RiOiE6IElq@J5Ta_2?5Ta_w2AATa_=625Ta_E96[p!Ta_}6HDQmv2>6 c =@DDk^2m @? %9FCD52J]k^Am

kAm|FCA9J =:DE65 pD93J[ |68:==[ p3?6C &C:36[ y2C65 z@6?:8 2?5 r925 !2EC:4< 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^3C6H6CD\;24@3\>:D:@C@HD<:\4F3D\>=3\A=2J@77D\4`23ddf7bbd2`bbc7dff`bc_eh7_ah56Qmy24@3 |:D:@C@HD<:k^2m 2D 8FJD H9@ 2C6 “8@:?8 E@ AC@323=J A:E49]”k^Am

kAm“p =@E @7 E9@D6 8FJD 2C6 C@@<:6D[ 2 =@E @7 E9@D6 8FJD 2C6 ?@E G6CJ 6IA6C:6?465[ 3FE E92E’D 9@H H6’G6 H@? 2== E96D6 82>6D 2?5 4@>6 E@86E96C[” |FCA9J D2:5] “}@H H6’C6 A=2J:?8 😕 2 H2J 3:886C 6?G:C@?>6?E[ 2?5 :E’D 2 3:886C E2D<] qFE x’> 4@?7:56?E E92E H6’== 92G6 6?@F89 A:E49:?8]”k^Am

Story continues below video

kAm%96 rF3D 2C6 ECJ:?8 E@ 364@>6 E96 “E9 E62> E@ H:? 2 36DE\@7\7:G6 D6C:6D 27E6C =@D:?8 E96 7:CDE EH@ 82>6D] %96 =2DE E62> E@ 5@ :E H2D E96 }6H *@C< *2?<66D 282:?DE r=6G6=2?5 😕 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^2A\E@A\?6HD\56C6<\;6E6C\4@C6J\<=F36C\4=6G6=2?5\4=6G6=2?5\:?5:2?D\3c3feb2eec6`ch4dgafgfg6gad3_ahd4Qma_`f p{ s:G:D:@? $6C:6D]k^2mk^Am

kAm$2EFC52JVD H:??:?8 E62> H@F=5 @A6? E96 }{r$ @? |@?52J] %96 qC6H6CD H@F=5 9@DE E96 s@586CD 7@C E96 DE2CE @7 E96 D6C:6D[ H9:=6 E96 rF3D H@F=5 EC2G6= E@ {@D p?86=6D]k^Am

kAmr9:428@ 92D C624965 E9:D A@:?E 3J H:??:?8 6249 @7 :ED =2DE E9C66 6=:>:?2E:@? 82>6D[ E9@F89 2== @7 E96> H6C6 2E 9@>6] %96 rF3D 362E E96 $2? s:68@ !25C6D b\` 😕 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^A25C6D\4F3D\D4@C6\>=3\A=2J@77D\_7_b`77e66d74_fbd`c`a4`eb`3`__62Qm564:D:G6 E9:C5 82>6k^2m @7 E96:C (:=5 r2C5 $6C:6D[ 2?5 E96J 3C@F89E E9:D D6C:6D 324< E@ |:=H2F<66 3J H:??:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^3C6H6CD\4F3D\D4@C6\>=3\A=2J@77D\b7h2c7ba4_3d2beb`6`gbbfcf`h_7`c4Qmc\b 😕 v2>6 bk^2m 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^4F3D\:2?\92AA\3C6H6CD\?=5D\4ghhg66faeg54`_4h33a__ah3b_be3aeQme\_ 😕 v2>6 c]k^2mk^Am

kAm“x 766= =:<6 :E’D 2? 6G6? D=2E6[” rF3D D64@?5 32D6>2? }:4@ w@6C?6C D2:5 27E6C E96 v2>6 c G:4E@CJ] “v2>6 d] q@E9 E62>D 92G6 925 8C62E >@>6?ED 😕 E9:D D6C:6D] x =@G6 H96C6 @FC 8C@FA’D 2E]”k^Am

kAm|:=H2F<66 😀 ECJ:?8 E@ 492?86 :ED C646?E 9:DE@CJ @7 A@DED62D@? 7CFDEC2E:@?]k^Am

kAm%96 qC6H6CD 2C6 😕 E96 A=2J@77D 7@C E96 D6G6?E9 E:>6 😕 E96 =2DE 6:89E D62D@?D[ 3FE E96:C =2DE A@DED62D@? D6C:6D H:? H2D 😕 E96 a_`g }{s$] %96J =@DE v2>6 f 2E 9@>6 E@ E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^a_g5e3hhh77aca5f2acc2`da74ed65daQms@586CD 😕 E96 }{r$k^2m E92E J62C 2?5 2C6 c\`b 😕 E96:C =2DE `f A=2J@77 82>6D]k^Am

kAm|FCA9J C6>2:?D 4@?7:56?E 😕 E96 qC6H6CDV 492?46D 2D E96J =@@< E@ 3@F?46 324< 7C@> EH@ DEC2:89E =@DD6D 😕 r9:428@]k^Am

kAm“(6VC6 7:G6 H:?D 2H2J 7C@> E96 (@C=5 $6C:6D[” |FCA9J D2:5] “xVG6 =62C?65 2 =@E 23@FE E9:D E62>[ 2?5 @?6 E9:?8 :E :D[ :EVD C6D:=:6?E[ 2?5 E96J 3@F?46 324<]”k^Am

kAm|:=H2F<66 DF776C65 @?6 @7 :ED >@DE 962CE3C62<:?8 A=2J@77 6I:ED =2DE J62C[ H96? E96 qC6H6CD =65 E96 }6H *@C< |6ED a\_ 9625:?8 :?E@ E96 ?:?E9 :??:?8 @7 v2>6 b 😕 E96 }{ (:=5 r2C5 $6C:6D 367@C6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^A6E6\2=@?D@\a_ac\>=3\A=2J@77D\>6ED\3C6H6CD\ahfd5ffacge6363_egdedba56ecd45ggQm!6E6 p=@?D@k^2m 9:E 2 E9C66\CF? 9@>6C @77 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^a_ac\>=3\A=2J@77D\56G:?\H:==:2>D\3C6H6CD\b`f5c_26achecfgb636daeg42cdch2fdQms6G:? (:==:2>Dk^2m 2D A2CE @7 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^a_ac\>=3\A=2J@77D\>6ED\3C6H6CD\35_hab46g`a5abc7e`6db“2fbcbg`cdQm7@FC\CF? C2==J]k^2mk^Am

kAm{@D:?8 E9:D D6C:6D H@F=5 36 ;FDE 23@FE 2D A2:?7F= 7@C qC6H6CD 72?D 3642FD6 :E’D 282:?DE @?6 @7 E96:C 3:886DE C:G2=D 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^4F3D\3C6H6CD\b7`ddhca2gffhgce_2ce5gf322c4h4f3Qmr@F?D6==[k^2m E96 =@?8E:>6 |:=H2F<66 >2?286C H9@ 8C6H FA 😕 E96 2C62 3FE k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^>:=H2F<66\3C6H6CD\4C2:8\4@F?D6==\49:428@\4F3D\52526_6a`4g44ebc_c6aedc47_5h3ffdQm=67E 9:D 9@>6E@H? E62>k^2m E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^4C2:8\4@F?D6==\4F3D\23d7f7ghdae5hg_d`7e`hd`c5he3b_2eQm;@:? E96 rF3D]k^2mk^Am

kAmr@F?D6== 92D 5@H?A=2J65 E96 A6CD@?2= 2DA64E @7 E9:D >2E49FA E9C@F89@FE E96 D6C:6D]k^Am

kAm“x’> ;FDE E9:?<:?8 23@FE 9@H 5@ H6 25G2?46[” r@F?D6== D2:5] “xE’D 2=>@DE =:<6 E96 @AA@?6?E 5@6D?’E >2EE6C C:89E ?@H] w@H 5@ H6 25G2?46n q642FD6 H9@ J@F A=2J 2?5 2== E9@D6 DE@C:6D 2C@F?5 E92E[ E92E 5@6D?’E >2EE6C] w@H 5@ H6 25G2?46n %92E’D C62==J 366? >J 7@4FD]”k^Am

k9C ^m

kAmp! |{qi k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^9F3^|{qQm9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^9F3^|{qk^2mk^Am

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.