Jacob Misiorowski turned his first career Opening Day start into a strikeout showcase, and the Milwaukee Brewers followed his lead with a historic performance. Despite giving up a leadoff home run to White Sox second baseman Chase Meidroth, Misiorowski and four relievers combined to overwhelm Chicago with 20 strikeouts in a dominant 14–2 win on Thursday at American Family Field.
Misiorowski wasted no time settling in after the early blemish. The 23 year old right hander responded by striking out the next three batters he faced and quickly established control of the game. Milwaukee’s offense backed him immediately, taking the lead in the second inning on William Contreras’ bases clearing double before piling on with home runs from Sal Frelick and Jake Bauers as the Brewers raced to double digit runs.
In his 15th career major league start, Misiorowski delivered a commanding outing. He allowed just one run on two hits over five innings, issued three walks, and struck out 11. The performance set a new Brewers franchise record for strikeouts by a pitcher on Opening Day and gave Milwaukee firm control long before the bullpen took over.
The strikeouts did not stop when Misiorowski exited. Relievers Aaron Ashby, Grant Anderson, DL Hall, and Jake Woodford added nine more punch outs over the final four innings. Hall and Woodford each struck out the side in their lone frames, and Woodford’s strikeout of Derek Hill to end the game sealed a milestone. The Brewers’ 20 strikeouts tied the modern Major League record for the most by a team in any nine inning game and marked the first time the feat has ever been accomplished on Opening Day.
Misiorowski’s rise has been fueled by an electric fastball that touched triple digits during his debut season, earning him a National League All Star selection despite limited experience. While he did not consistently reach 100 mph in this outing, his arsenal proved just as devastating. Chicago hitters swung and missed 24 times, underscoring the quality of his stuff and the tone he set for a Brewers staff that delivered one of the most dominant pitching performances in recent league history.