09/02/26 11:28:00
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09/02 23:26 CDT Brewers' Jacob Misiorowski matches career worsts in runs
allowed and walks in rough start vs. Cubs
Brewers' Jacob Misiorowski matches career worsts in runs allowed and walks in
rough start vs. Cubs
By JAY COHEN
AP Baseball Writer
CHICAGO (AP) --- Jacob Misiorowski's worst start of the season was just a minor
inconvenience for the rolling Milwaukee Brewers.
Misiorowski struggled in hot and humid conditions on Wednesday night,
surrendering five runs and five hits in four innings against the Chicago Cubs.
But Milwaukee rallied for a 9-5 victory at Wrigley Field.
"He's going to learn a lesson from this," Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. "He
didn't command his fastball. And he just had to bob and weave. He was slipping
on the mound again early. ... He didn't have his perfect delivery, and that's
going to be a key going forward."
Misiorowski struck out five and walked four in his 26th start this season and
No. 40 for his career. The five earned runs and four walks matched
Misiorowski's career highs.
The 6-foot-7 right-hander surrendered three earned runs or fewer in his first
25 starts this year, becoming the favorite for the NL Cy Young Award. His ERA
rose to 1.97, which still leads the majors. He also has an MLB-best 227
strikeouts in 155 innings in his second big league season.
"Didn't feel wonderful, didn't feel great," Misiorowski said. "Obviously it
felt soggy the whole time. The weather played a factor in that, so lost grip,
but, you know, had to make it work."
The 24-year-old Misiorowski, who has a long extension with his pitching motion,
said a soft mound is a significant challenge.
"You start second-guessing everything, start trying to make pitches too big,
and start trying make things too spot-on," he said, "so (you) start leaking
places, and you got to calm yourself down and figure out a way to get through
it."
Misiorowski's trouble began in the first inning. He issued a leadoff walk to
Pete Crow-Armstrong and surrendered a two-run homer by Alex Bregman with one
out.
The Cubs added three more in the second. Tyrone Taylor hit an RBI single before
Misiorowski walked Crow-Armstrong and Seiya Suzuki, loading the bases. One
batter later, Bregman grounded a two-run single up the middle for a 5-3 lead.
"His delivery's got to be right," Murphy said. "He's got to command his
fastball. If he doesn't command his fastball, he's good, but he's not ... you
saw what happened tonight, and he walks people."
Misiorowski worked around Ian Happ's one-out single in the third. Seiya Suzuki
walked with two down in the fourth, but Misiorowski retired Bregman on a popup
to shortstop.
He threw 92 pitches, 53 for strikes, and the NL Central-leading Brewers had a
6-5 lead when he departed.
"Today didn't happen to be the best day for him on the mound," Brewers
outfielder Jackson Chourio said through an interpreter. "But again, the group
here was able to pick him up and do our part to be able to get us a win."
Chourio hit his 21st homer, part of a four-hit night. JoJo Romero, Antonio
Senzatela, Abner Uribe, Aaron Ashby and Trevor Megill each pitched a scoreless
inning out of the bullpen, finishing a six-hitter.
Milwaukee won for the sixth time in eight games.
"Electric. ... Awesome to have guys like that behind you," Misiorowski said of
the bullpen's performance. "You know, I have a rough start and they figure out
a way to get through it with me."
___
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