American Family Field was packed with 42,774 fans-its largest crowd of the season-for a rare Tuesday night sellout.
The draw? A headline-grabbing pitching matchup between two of the National League‘s most electrifying pitchers: Milwaukee‘s Jacob Misiorowski and Pittsburgh‘s Paul Skenes.
The much-anticipated duel lived up to expectations, but it was Misiorowski who came out on top in the Brewers’ 4-2 win over the Pirates.
Misiorowski, 23, delivered a dominant five-inning outing, striking out a career-high eight batters and allowing only two hits.
Though he was pulled after 74 pitches-his lightest workload in three starts-he continued a historic run. He now owns a 3-0 record with a 1.13 ERA and has allowed just three hits in 16 innings.
He also made history as the first pitcher since 1901 to record more wins than hits allowed through his first three career outings.
Meanwhile, Paul Skenes suffered through his shortest start of the season. The Pirates right-hander gave up four earned runs in just four innings of work.
He threw 78 pitches, his lowest total of the year, and struggled particularly in the second inning, which saw the Brewers send nine batters to the plate and score all four of their runs. Skenes had not allowed four earned runs since April 8 and hadn’t thrown fewer than 95 pitches in any June start until this outing.
Skenes reflects after rare off night
After the game, Skenes was accountable and composed in his comments. “The only thing that can be better than weak contact is a strikeout,” he said. “There were a couple [pitches] that could’ve been better, maybe some different decisions, but you can’t dwell on it. You’ll lose a lot of sleep if you go down that road.”
Despite the loss, Skenes showed sportsmanship in praising Misiorowski‘s performance. “He did a great job,” he said. “It was electric. I want the best for him, and I’m looking forward to pitching against him again this year.”
Skenes now holds a 4-7 record, and his ERA ticked above 2.00 for the first time since early June, settling at 2.12. Still, the rookie remains a top contender for NL Rookie of the Year, even as Misiorowski strengthens his own case.
This marquee matchup showed why both pitchers are viewed as franchise cornerstones. With more potential duels on the horizon, including a rematch in August, baseball fans can expect plenty more fireworks from these two rising stars.
Read the full article here
