Misiorowski Dominates in Five Innings as Milwaukee Seals Fourth Consecutive Crown
Misiorowski Dominates in Five Innings as Milwaukee Seals Fourth Consecutive Crown
Jacob Misiorowski struck out seven batters in five scoreless innings and the Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-1 on Tuesday night, a result that left them one step away from the top of the National League Central Division. About 50 minutes after the final out, the title was confirmed when the second-place Chicago Cubs fell to Atlanta. The Milwaukee players followed the end of that game on television and celebrated with their hands raised as Chicago’s defeat was sealed.
It marks the fourth consecutive divisional crown for the Brewers, who have been postseason regulars for a decade without achieving their ultimate goal: reaching a World Series for the first time since 1982. Last season they were eliminated in the National League Championship Series by the Los Angeles Dodgers, and with this qualification they reach the postseason for the eighth time in nine years.
Misiorowski (15-5) lowered his ERA to 1.89, the best in the majors, and raised his season strikeout total to 243 after throwing 82 pitches, 43 of them at 100 miles per hour or more. Joey Ortiz and Luis Lara each drove in two runs for Milwaukee. For the Pirates, Brandon Lowe hit his 30th home run, the team’s 171st of the season, matching the franchise record set in 1999, while Rafael Flores Jr. added four hits on a day when Pittsburgh, which fell to 75-76, honored the late Roberto Clemente by wearing uniform number 21.
The series between the two teams continues on Wednesday, when Logan Henderson (10-3, 2.34 ERA) faces Jared Jones (4-6, 4.10) for Pittsburgh.