Brewers take series opener in first matchup with Craig Counsell's Cubs, 3-1

In the Brewers' first game against the Craig Counsell-managed Cubs, Milwaukee came out on top with a 3-1 victory thanks to an eighth-inning rally anchored by four stolen bases.

The first five frames were a pitchers' duel, as both Joe Ross and Hayden Wesneski kept the opposing offenses off the board.

The Brewers had runners in scoring position in the first, second, and fourth but were unable to get anyone past second base, while the Cubs had a leadoff double from Michael Busch in the second and couldn't move him over. The Cubs also loaded the bases in the fourth before Matt Mervis struck out to end the rally, keeping it locked up at 0-0.

Christopher Morel broke the tie in the sixth with a two-out homer off Ross, his sixth of the year, to make it 1-0.

After Blake Perkins ended the seventh by throwing out Miguel Amaya trying to stretch a single into a double, Perkins himself was robbed of a hit by Mike Tauchman to open up the eighth.

The Brewers wouldn't need Perkins, however, as Adbert Alzolay entered and proceeded to allow four singles over the next five batters. William Contreras, Willy Adames, and Jake Bauers each recorded RBIs, while all three players stole a base in addition to Jackson Chourio, who started the rally with a single and a steal.

The final inning and a half had minimal drama, as Joel Payamps and Trevor Megill allowed just one baserunner, a single to Nico Hoerner in the eighth. Unfortunately, that single also came with an injury, as Joey Wiemer appeared to roll his ankle fielding the ball and was immediately removed from the game.

Brice Turang was the only Brewer to collect two hits, while six others recorded a hit apiece. Bauers reached twice via a hit and a walk, while five Brewers (Tyler Black, Chourio, Contreras, Adames, and Bauers) recorded a stolen base in the win.

Joe Ross allowed one earned run across six innings, striking out four and giving up six hits and no walks. Elvis Peguero, Payamps, and Megill combined to allow just two hits in the final three innings to help Milwaukee earn a series-opening win.

The Brewers return to action Saturday afternoon with Pat Murphy back in the dugout for the first time since Tuesday. First pitch is at 1:20 p.m. with Tobias Myers on the mound for Milwaukee and Jameson Taillon starting for Chicago.