Anthony Rizzo got his redemption after a mental mistake in the 11th inning with a game-winning single in the 11th to give the Cubs’ a 6-5 win.

Coming off a 2-5 road trip in Atlanta and Cincinnati and a litany of injuries heading into Tuesday’s doubleheader against the Dodgers, things did not appear to be heading in the right direction for the Cubs.

After the team’s bad stretch entering May, the schedule didn’t let up as the World Series champion Dodgers came to Wrigley Field.

One of the things the Cubs have struggled with this season has been good starting pitching, and they saw possibly the best trio they’d see all season in Clayton Kershaw, Trevor Bauer and Walker Buehler.

But after squandering opportunities to win ballgames in similar situations throughout April, the Cubs opened the month of May with some fight against one of the National League’s premier teams. They completed a sweep with Wednesday’s 5-4, 11-inning win and maybe gained some much needed confidence in the process.

“I think [the sweep] is a huge confidence boost,” said Matt Duffy who was 3-for-4 and scored the game-winning run in the 11th inning. “I think it kind of reaffirms what we believe in the clubhouse that we’re a high-quality team and we’re capable of doing things like we did against them.”

It made sense after Tuesday’s comeback victory over the Dodgers in extras, both teams would be in for another battle in the series finale. It started as a pitcher’s duel with Walker Buehler and Adbert Alzolay going back and forth. Alzolay struck out a career-high-tying seven over five innings in the game.

As the game continued late, both sides traded punches back and forth in the fifth, eighth, 10th and 11th innings as the Dodgers and Cubs battled to take the game. Things looked bleak in the 11th inning as the Dodgers went up 5-4, scoring on a fielder’s choice as first baseman Anthony Rizzo missed touching the bag as he attempted to turn the 3-6 double play.

Rizzo, who entered the game in the 10th inning, would get his redemption in the bottom of the inning. After Duffy singled to tie the game at 5, Rizzo followed with an RBI-single of his own through the shifted infield to send the Cubs to their second sweep of the season.

“It’s just nice to be in that situation,” Rizzo said about his walk-off single. “Duffy tying the game up and then Tony Wolters with a really good at-bat laying off good sliders. To be up in that situation and obviously hit it whether or not standing or doubt this time and it feels good going into the off-day.”

The Cubs sweep of the Dodgers comes at the perfect time as the team’s season has started to feel shaky as the losses have begun to pile up and taking three games from who many consider the best team in baseball is a big deal.

The Cubs looked ready for Los Angeles’ best shot during the three-game set and it showed. Even when it looked like they were preparing to give a game away, somebody came through in a big moment.

“Just reiterate what I said yesterday about the willingness to continue to fight, to continue to have the same at-bats and continue to try to make pitches,” manager David Ross said. “To not let things get out of control and get away from us. [The Dodgers] came up with some big hits in big spots and then we came up with big hits and big spots and it’s just back and forth.

“I don’t think everything’s as pretty as we want it, but we’re continue to battle against a really good team and come away with a big win there before the off-day.”

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The shooting happened Wednesday in the 6900 block of South Cornell Avenue.

Four men were wounded in a shooting Wednesday night in South Shore.

The men were shot about 10:20 p.m. in the 6900 block of South Cornell Avenue, according to preliminary information from the Chicago Fire Department.

One man was taken in fair-to-serious condition to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, fire officials said.

Another man was taken in fair-to-serious condition to the University of Chicago Medical Center, according to fire officials. Two other men were transported to the same hospital in serious-to-critical condition.

There were no other details immediately known.

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The pair were standing on the sidewalk Wednesday in the 4100 block of West Adams Street when a vehicle drove past them and someone from inside fired shots, police said.

A man was killed and another wounded in a drive-by shooting Wednesday evening in West Garfield Park.

The pair were standing on the sidewalk about 7:40 p.m. in the 4100 block of West Adams Street when a vehicle drove past them and someone from inside fired shots, Chicago police said.

The 33-year-old was shot in the leg and lower back and was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said. The Cook County medical examiner’s office hasn’t yet released his identity.

The other man, 29, struck in the wrist and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in good condition, police said.

No one is in custody as Area Four detectives investigate.

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The men were walking past a vigil in a park in the 1700 block of North Mango Avenue when two people approached and fired shots

Two men were wounded, one critically, Wednesday night in a shooting near a vigil in Austin.

About 6:55 p.m., the men were walking past a vigil in a park in the 1700 block of North Mango Avenue when two people approached and fired shots, Chicago police said.

A 20-year-old man suffered a gunshot wound to the right arm, shoulder and neck, police said. He brought himself to West Suburban Medical Center and was listed in critical condition, police said.

A 23-year-old was struck the left leg and taken to Loyola Medical Center in Maywood in good condition, police said.

No one is in custody, police said.

Area Five detectives are investigating.

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Olczyk will join Kenny Albert as the network’s top team when it begins its seven-year deal with the 2021-22 season.

Blackhawks analyst Eddie Olczyk will be the lead NHL game analyst for Turner Sports when TNT begins its seven-year broadcast deal next season, according to an industry source. Olczyk will join Kenny Albert as Turner’s top team.

Olczyk, who agreed in principle to a five-year deal, has been NBC’s lead game analyst since 2006, when he took over for John Davidson. Albert and Olczyk are expected to call the Stanley Cup Finals for NBC this season, the network’s last with broadcast rights.

Turner outbid NBC for the NHL last month, buying the league’s secondary package for a reported $225 million per year. ESPN bought the primary package in March for a reported $400 million annually.

NBC/Comcast has aired NHL games since 2005, when they were shown on Outdoor Life Network. That became Versus, which became NBC Sports Network, which will shutter at the end of the year. NBC/Comcast will turn USA Network into an entertainment/sports channel.

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There’s plenty to see and do in Chicago in the week ahead, online and in-person.

A day well-lived

Gravitas Ventures

After spending years in Hollywood, musician-actor-writer Jer Sklar returned to Chicago to attend film school at DePaul University. His master film thesis, “Tom of Your Life,” debuted on DVD last fall and will now have a six-day run May 7-13 at the Music Box Theatre (3733 N. Southport). Sklar stars in the story of a baby who inexplicably ages four years each hour. Sun-Times film critic Richard Roeper called the film “lovely and brilliant and poignant” adding that he loved “the skillful storytelling and the universally excellent performances.” Others in the film include Baize Buzan, James Sharpe, Paul Tigue and the legendary Mike Nussbaum. The filmmakers and cast will attend the May 8 evening screening beginning with a free pre-show event at 5:45 p.m., which includes music by Sklar’s band The Blackstrap Molasses and a Q&A. Tickets: $11. Visit musicboxtheatre.com.

Zac is back

Diego Pemia

While it looks like a return to live concerts may be on the horizon, virtual events are still the way to go. The latest to take part is Grammy Award-winning Zac Brown Band. The event, livestreamed at 8 p.m. May 8, will feature the musicians revisiting some of their greatest hits from the past two decades. There’s also an encore event with the band answering fan-submitted questions. Tickets: $19.99, VIP packages also are available. Visit sessonslive.com/zacbrownband.

A Greek master

© Yannis Tsarouchis Foundation

Wrightwood 659 presents a new exhibit, “Yannis Tsarouchis: Dancing in Real Life,” the first U.S. retrospective devoted to the work of the artist widely regarded as one of the greatest Greek painters of the 20^th century. Featured are some 200 works, including paintings and works on paper that span the arc of the artist’s career. Tsarouchis (1910-1989) is known for his male portraits and nudes but theater also was a source of inspiration. He designed the set and costumes for Maria Callas’ 1958 performance as Medea at the Dallas Civic Opera as well as the set designs for Samuel Beckett’s plays staged in Paris and Thessaloniki, Greece. The exhibit runs May 7-July 31. Tickets: $15 available online only. Visit wrightwood659.org.

Happy Mother’s Day

Arturo Mandalay

Jarrott Productions presents the world premiere of “A Portrait of My Mother,” written and performed by Carlo Lorenzo Garcia, in which he tells the story of his mother’s journey into motherhood. Streams at 7 p.m. May 9. Tickets: $5. Visit jarrottproductions.com. … Grammy Award-winning jazz artist Kurt Elling performs “A Toast to Mom” ($75) from May 7-9 live at City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph. There’s also a livestream of the show at 5 p.m. May 9 ($20). Visit citywinery/chicago.com/. … The storytelling collective 2nd Story’s Mother’s Day show is “We Are All Our Selves: Stories of Taking Charge and Taking Care,” featuring new stories from Ana P. Martin Sagredo, Betsey Manzoni and Kimberlee Soo. Streams at 6 p.m. May 9. Tickets: pay-what-you-can. Visit 2ndstory.com. … The Neo-Futurists present a Mother’s Day benefit for Chicago Birthworks Collective featuring “The Egg Wrench: 30 Egg Plays in 60 Egg Minutes.” Livestreams at 3 p.m. May 9. Tickets: $18. Visit neofuturists.org.

Anniversary music

Getty Images

The Music Institute of Chicago celebrates 90 years with a virtual gala at 6 p.m. May 10. Highlights include the presentation of the Dushkin Award to Maestro Zubin Mehta, the Cultural Visionary Award for Chicago to Linda Theis Gantz and Wilbur “Bill” Gantz and the Colburn Award for Teaching Excellence to Nina Wallenberg and Daniel Wallenberg. The evening also features a recorded performance by Music Institute alumna and past Dushkin awardee violinist Rachel Barton Pine, along with recorded messages from additional past Dushkin awardees, including jazz artist Wynton Marsalis and violinists Joshua Bell, Midori, Pinchas Zukerman and others. Admission is free; donations appreciated. Visit musicinst.org/anniversary-gala.

No talking

File photo

The Silent Film Society of Chicago screens three classic films from the early days of cinema: Harold Lloyd in “Safety Last!” (May 12), Buster Keaton in “The Navigator” (May 19) and Charlie Chaplin in “Shoulder Arms” (May 26). All start times are 7:30 p.m. at the Pickwick Theater, 5 S. Prospect, Park Ridge. Tickets: $10. Visit silentfilmchicago.com/events/.

Virtual stage

Oak Park Festival Theatre stages a virtual production of Matt Barbot’s “The Venetians,” a work that brings together various characters from several of Shakespeare’s plays to address contemporary issues. Directed by Eddie Torres, the play streams May 8-16. Tickets: $25. Visit oakparkfestival.com. … A Red Orchid Theatre’s audio version of Exal Iraheta’s “Last Hermanos,” a drama that finds two Latinx men on the run who confront the conflict over one’s desire for revolution and the other’s need to return to normalcy, is available to May 16. Tickets: $15. Visit aredorchidtheatre.org/lh-info/. … From May 6-June 19, Metropolis Performing Arts Centre (111 W. Campbell, Arlington Heights) presents an outdoor staging of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken’s “Little Shop of Horrors.” Tickets: $35, $40. Visit metropolisarts.com.

Mary Houlihan is a Chicago freelance writer.

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Luis Robert’s torn hip flexor will take three to four months, if not longer, for a full recovery but it’s an injury that shouldn’t affect him after it heals properly.

CINCINNATI — Luis Robert’s torn hip flexor will take three to four months, if not longer, for a full recovery but it’s an injury that shouldn’t affect him after it heals properly.

“Without knowing the exact particulars [of the tear] more often than not he’s going to get back to playing at or near the same level” said Brian Schulz, a sports medicine specialist and orthopedic surgeon with the Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute and a team physician for the Los Angeles Angels.

It was puzzling to some that Robert could tear a muscle running a straight line to first base with no contact. Several factors may have played into it, Schulz said.

“These athletes are so long and so fit,” Schulz said, “and he’s going from 0 to 100 almost immediately and the forces that are going through at the time, if his muscles aren’t warmed up or maybe he was just a little tight that day from the workload he had the previous day, who knows? Those forces are so great that sometimes the muscle can’t provide the support that it needs to.”

Sox assistant general manager and director of player development Chris Getz said there was no indication of “something that was nagging” Robert that would have led to the injury. The Sox are examining the injury from all angles, he said.

“With any injury, we do a deep dive and then analyze, was there something that perhaps caused this,” Getz said. “In Luis’ case, we are talking about one of the more explosive players in baseball and probably all of sports.”

Schulz said patience in Robert’s recovery process will be key. There is no way to speed up the healing process.

“It takes that long for these tissues to heal,” Schulz said. “Especially with a muscle injury, if you push too early you run the risk of going right back to where you started.”

The recovery time will be the same whether Robert has surgery or not. A decision on that is expected this week, general manager Rick Hahn said.

Achy Eaton

Adam Eaton got through a full first month without getting achy legs but he’s now dealing with a sore knee, which got him the afternoon off Wednesday. Manager Tony La Russa said Eaton also has a tight hamstring.

“I’m old, I’m old,” Eaton, 32, joked. “But I’m OK, it’s all part of the grind.”

Eaton is second on the Sox with 16 runs scored and 18 RBI but is hitless in his last 19 at-bats, dropping his average from .268 to .211.

“Sometimes when I’m banged up I play better, so maybe turn it into a positive,” he said.

“It’s a good day for him to rest and then rest [Thursday, an off day],” La Russa said. “Need to keep him fresh because he’s very important.”

Leury Garcia started in right field with Billy Hamilton in center.

Votto fractures thumb

The Reds’ Joey Votto fractured his thumb when he was hit by a Dallas Keuchel changeup in the fourth inning. Votto was replaced at first base by Kyle Farmer in the sixth inning.

Votto, who has been hit 61 times in his career, is not expected to need surgery but could miss up to a month.

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An Associated Press investigation found Christopher Bauer was suspended without pay and stripped of his security clearance in the FBI’s New Orleans office in late 2018 — effectively fired — amid allegations that included a co-worker’s claim that he raped her at knifepoint.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — An Alabama state trooper arrested last week on charges he raped an 11-year-old girl had been kicked out of the FBI amid a string of sexual misconduct allegations but was hired by the state agency with the apparent help of a fake bureau letter that scrubbed his record clean.

An Associated Press investigation found Christopher Bauer was suspended without pay and stripped of his security clearance in the FBI’s New Orleans office in late 2018 — effectively fired — amid allegations that included a co-worker’s claim that he raped her at knifepoint.

But Alabama authorities either overlooked or were unaware of that history. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the state police, told AP that it conducted a “full and thorough” investigation into Bauer’s background when he applied to be a trooper in 2019 and that “no derogatory comments were uncovered by former employers.”

Bauer indicated on his application that he was still employed by the FBI and had never been dismissed or forced to resign because of disciplinary action. And the state’s law enforcement credentialing commission provided AP a copy of a letter — purportedly from FBI headquarters — that makes no mention of Bauer’s ouster, confirms his decade of “creditable service” and deems him “eligible for rehire.”

“The letter is not legitimate,” the FBI said in a statement to the AP on Wednesday. Bureau officials would not say who they believe forged the letter.

Bauer, 41, was arrested last week in Montgomery on charges including sodomy and sexual abuse of a child under 12. The AP is withholding some details of the allegations to protect the girl’s identity.

AP

Bauer remained jailed Wednesday on $105,000 bail, and court records do not list an attorney who could comment on his behalf. An attorney who represented Bauer in challenging his ouster from the FBI did not respond to requests for comment.

The FBI declined to say whether it was asked for any information about Bauer’s suitability to be hired by the state police.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey’s office referred questions on the matter to the state police, which did not respond to repeated queries about the details of Bauer’s hiring.

“You have to ask yourself why an agent from the FBI would want to leave after 10 years,” said Lou Reiter, a policing consultant and former deputy chief with the Los Angeles Police Department. “They obviously didn’t do any kind of due diligence with their background check.”

“There have to be phone calls,” added Michael Avery, a retired professor at Suffolk University’s Law School and an expert on police misconduct.

Bauer resigned from the state police following his arrest, citing “personal reasons.”

Bauer is the latest — and perhaps most extreme — example yet of an FBI agent accused of sexual misconduct moving on. An AP investigation last year found a pattern of FBI supervisors avoiding discipline — and retiring with full benefits — even after claims of sexual misconduct against them were substantiated.

“Nobody wants to take responsibility,” the former co-worker who accused Bauer of rape told the AP, which does not typically identify those who say they are the victims of sex crimes. “I didn’t want this to happen to anybody else.”

An Air Force veteran, Bauer was a member of the Montgomery police force before joining the FBI in 2009, working a number of high-profile cases in the New Orleans field office. He has disputed the sexual misconduct claims made by his FBI co-worker, telling colleagues the acts were consensual.

FBI brass considered the misconduct case to be “egregious,” according to a former senior law enforcement official with direct knowledge of the matter. Internal investigators interviewed several female FBI employees about their dealings with Bauer and believed the truth to be “somewhere in the middle” of what Bauer and the co-worker claimed, the former official said. The internal inquiry found Bauer violated FBI policy, including by having sex in an FBI vehicle.

“He flat-out needed to lose his job, and he really should have been charged criminally,” said the former official, who wasn’t authorized to discuss personnel matters and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Bauer’s co-worker told AP that Louisiana authorities had been pursuing criminal charges in St. Tammany Parish, north of New Orleans, but she didn’t believe she had enough evidence to go forward.

The allegations also played out in a restraining order obtained by the co-worker that names Bauer and had been in the public record in Louisiana for a year when Alabama hired him as a trooper. In it, the woman accuses the lawman of choking her, adding she was “scared for my life.”

Bauer was ordered to surrender his “firearms, weapons, swords and knives” as part of the case.

“I couldn’t see any more and felt my legs go out from under me,” the woman wrote in her application for the order. “He told me many times if I went to war with him I would lose. He told me many times he would destroy me.”

The woman told AP that Bauer sexually assaulted her so frequently her hair began to fall out.

“It was a year of torture,” she said. “He quite literally would keep me awake for days. I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t sleep, and in six months I went from 150 pounds to 92 pounds. I was physically dying from what he was doing to me.”

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Mustian reported from New York. Associated Press writer Eric Tucker contributed to this report from Washington.

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