UPDATE: Milwaukee Brewers’ rookie sensation Jacob Misiorowski battled through an intense first inning to lead his team to an 8-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs on July 17, 2023. Misiorowski, who entered the game with a flawless 3-0 record and a stunning 0.56 ERA, faced immediate adversity in front of a sold-out crowd at American Family Field.
Struggling right out of the gate, Misiorowski allowed a bloop single and walk before taking a hard line drive to his shin from Seiya Suzuki. Despite striking out Pete Crow-Armstrong, a wild pitch allowed the Cubs to score, and a chaotic sequence resulted in two more runs crossing the plate. Misiorowski finished the inning having thrown an exhausting 40 pitches.
“It was a long inning and long innings suck,”
Misiorowski stated. “Your legs start feeling a little loose and every pitch seems to be getting away just a little bit.”
Refusing to back down, Misiorowski regrouped and retired ten consecutive batters, demonstrating resilience that impressed both fans and teammates. Meanwhile, the Brewers capitalized on the momentum, scoring four runs in the third inning to take the lead for good, with Christian Yelich contributing an RBI double and Isaac Collins delivering a critical two-run single.
“Just trust that the team is behind me and is going to help me out, and they did,” Misiorowski reflected after the game. “I thought I did my job of getting us into a position to succeed.”
Manager Pat Murphy praised Misiorowski’s ability to bounce back, comparing his performance to that of a fighter who must regroup after being knocked down. “He’ll remember this outing and he’s going to learn from it,” Murphy noted, emphasizing the rookie’s potential to grow from this experience.
Despite the rough start, Misiorowski completed four innings, allowing only three hits and three runs, striking out an impressive seven batters, including throwing eleven pitches at over 100 mph. His performance exemplified the grit needed in the major leagues.
In the fifth inning, Andrew Vaughn hit a solo homer, followed by another from Sal Frelick in the sixth, extending the Brewers’ lead to 6-3. After a Cubs run in the seventh, Yelich sealed the game with a two-run shot, demonstrating the team’s ability to rally together.
“We just had to keep putting together good at-bats, just grinding, getting in there and making it messy,”
Yelich said, highlighting the team’s determination to chip away at the scoreboard.
This victory not only boosts the Brewers’ standing in the NL Central but also showcases Misiorowski’s resilience as a key player for the future. Fans are eager to see how this young talent will continue to develop after such a challenging start.
The Brewers look to build on this momentum as they prepare for their next matchup, aiming to solidify their position in the playoff race.
