Misiorowski flashes in no-hit debut, 6-0 win over Cardinals

Miz shines in major league debut

Box Score

In an impeccable debut, Jacob Misiorowski pitched five hitless innings while flashing his triple-digit velocity, playing a key role in the Milwaukee Brewers’ 6-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals.

Misiorowski’s electric arm was on full display, striking out five batters and routinely beating batters with his fastball. Hitters struggled to catch up to his pitches, but even when they did, they couldn’t make consistent contact. Misiorowski allowed just two hard-hit balls and often gave his defense an easy run of things.

He recorded his first career strikeout in the second inning with a slider outside to Willson Contreras. It was his fastball, though, that was his most lethal weapon. His four-seam fastball generated seven whiffs on 24 swings. While he could beat batters down the middle with the heater, he got strikeouts with most of his arsenal, showcasing his dynamic talent.

The third inning gave Misiorowski his first dangerous situation of the night. A leadoff walk to Nolan Gorman could have set the stage for St. Louis to find some early offense, but a cutter to Pedro Pagés was hit up the middle for a double play.

The only serious worry for Miz came when he returned to the mound in the sixth inning. On a 3-0 count to the leadoff batter, he rolled his ankle when stepping backward to the rubber. After a mound visit, the team determined to remove him from the game. The injury didn’t look too serious, but it was enough to take him out. He left without surrendering a hit as the crowd applauded their sensational new pitcher in his major league debut.

That batter, Victor Scott II, was left in a 3-0 count as Nick Mears entered in relief. Scott would walk, but Mears found three easy outs to end the inning without a blemish on Misiorowski’s box score except the four walks he allowed.

While Miz was certainly the star of the night, the Brewers’ offense was just as much of a showstopper. Facing off against Sonny Gray, Milwaukee held a tight 1-0 lead until an explosive fifth inning gave the Brewers a comfortable margin.

It started in the second inning when Isaac Collins came through in a difficult situation. With two outs and a full count, he pulled a ball down the first base line for a triple. Brice Turang followed with a grounder to third base, forcing Nolan Arenado into a difficult throw with little momentum. It was a nearly impossible play against the speedy Turang, so the Brewers checked off their first run of the game for a 1-0 lead.

In the fifth inning, the decisive pivot, Collins got on base again with a leadoff walk. Gray made an impressive pickoff move to catch Collins though for a quick out. Despite the lost out, the Brewers crafted the biggest rally of the night.

Turang kicked it off with a hard hit ball towards right field. The ball took a difficult bounce and skimmed off Gorman’s glove for Turang’s second hit of the night. Caleb Durbin and Joey Ortiz followed with hits of their own. Ortiz’s double gave the Brewers a 2-0 lead, and it was his 10th RBI on the season.

That was just the start of the fireworks. Sal Frelick took a fastball down the middle to the opposite field for a two-run single.

With the Brewers up 4-0, Jackson Chourio stepped up to the plate and launched a monstrous 410-foot homer to nearly dead centerfield. The Brewers leaped ahead to a 6-0 scoreline, lighting up the box score against Gray. It was enough for the Cardinals to remove their ace from the game after just 4 ¹⁄₃ innings.

The scoreboard was in Milwaukee’s firm control, and they continued to impress in the margins as the game advanced. In the seventh inning, with Aaron Ashby now on the mound, Willson Contreras hit a broken bat single to lead off the inning. When a stray curveball bounced in the dirt, Willson darted for second, but his brother threw a ball low to second base, with Ortiz making a clean scoop and tag to cut down the runner.

Ashby was on the wrong side of batted ball luck once again when Alec Burleson hit a spinning, drifting ball into shallow centerfield for a base hit. Arenado followed with another quiet hit into the outfield grass to get two runners on base. A wild pitch added to the chaos, but a flyout and a spinning play from Durbin at third base to record a groundout ended the threat. The Brewers maintained their 6-0 advantage with another applaudable effort from their defenders.

It was as complete of an offensive performance as the team could hope for, with nearly every starter getting a hit. Frelick found his third hit of the game in the seventh inning as he worked from the top of the batting order this game. Four Brewers in all had a multi-hit effort.

There was a scary moment in the top of the eighth when Ashby hit Scott with a pitch on the side of the head. The Cardinals’ trainer came out for a concussion test. Thankfully, Scott wasn’t too hurt and was able to stay in the game.

With the runner on first, Ashby utilized his sinker to force a groundball. Turang was primed to convert it into a double play, clearing the bases once again as the Brewers cruised towards a victory. The Brewers entrusted Ashby with the ninth inning, as well. Frelick made a diving catch to add yet another highlight to his impressive night. Ashby caught the final batter, Burleson, with a breaking ball below the zone to end the game. With the 6-0 victory sealed, Milwaukee notched the win in Misiorowski’s incredible debut.

Late in the game, it was reported that Miz was removed with cramping in his right calf and quad, meaning there shouldn’t be much worry about any sort of IL stint.

Milwaukee put together 12 hits on the night, with Frelick’s three hits and Collins’ two hits and walk leading the way. Turang and Yelich each added two hits, while Chourio had the biggest hit with a two-run homer. Ashby’s three hits were the only hits allowed by Milwaukee, while Miz’s four walks and five strikeouts over five-plus frames got him the win. Ashby also earned his first save of the season (and third of his career) with three innings of work.

Milwaukee continues the series tomorrow with a 7:10 p.m. first pitch. Freddy Peralta is scheduled to start against Erick Fedde.