Jacob Misiorowski Shines In First Opening Day, David Hamilton Runs Wild In Brewers Debut

[Michael Trzinski]

Image courtesy of © Jovanny Hernandez / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Opening Day did not start out well for the Milwaukee Brewers. Chicago leadoff batter Chase Meidroth worked a full count on Brewers starter Jacob Misiorowski and then slammed a 417-foot homer to the second level in left field to give the White Sox an early 1-0 lead. That was one turning point in the first Opening Day start for The Miz. He promptly struck out the side to shut down the South Sider’s hopes.

A Historic Day for The Miz

After the home run in the first inning, Miz allowed one hit and three free passes while striking out 11 batters, bettering the previous mark for Brewers Opening Day pitchers by three, set by Freddy Peralta (twice) and Ben Sheets. Misiorowski struck out the side twice and gave up one more hit in his five innings on the mound.

The second turning point came when Miz allowed a one-out walk to Meidroth and had a 2-0 count on Colson Montgomery in the third inning with the Brewers leading 4-1. Pitching guru Chris Hook came out and had a little chat with his pitcher. Misiorowski then settled down and struck out Montgomery on three pitches and then set down Miguel Vargas on four pitches. Miz retired the side in order in the fifth inning, and his day was done after 94 pitches and a very solid effort.

Game, set, and match.

Crooked Numbers, Over & Over

Milwaukee scored two or more runs in an inning five times today, effectively demoralizing the White Sox. Joey Ortiz came through with the sacks jammed in the second with a looper over a diving Meidroth to tie the game at one. Then, William Contreras ripped a three-run double two batters later to put the Brewers up 4-1. The White Sox had three base runners in the next two innings but failed to score.

The Brewers scored two runs each in the fourth and fifth, and then upped their game by scoring three runs in each of the sixth and seventh innings. Sal Frelick hit a two-run blast in the fifth, and then Jake Bauers continued his spring hot streak by hitting a roof-scraping three-run homer in the seventh that just cleared the fence in right field to account for the final Milwaukee scores.

Hamilton Lives Up To Murphy Praise

David Hamilton came over in the Caleb Durbin/Andruw Monasterio/Anthony Seigler trade from Boston and immediately won over Brewers fans, as he reached base four times, stole a base, and scored two runs. He also made a play on a slow roller by Luisangel Acuña in the fifth, bare handing the ball and firing to first to retire the speedy brother of Ronald Acuña, Jr.

Recently acquired reliever Jake Woodford came into the game in the ninth and gave up the first major league hit to Munetaka Murakami when the former Japanese star blasted a home run to make the score 14-2. Woodford then struck out the side on 13 pitches to end the successful day for Milwaukee.

One Down, 161 Games To Go

A win over Chicago today is a lot better than last year’s debacle at Yankee Stadium, when the Brewers got swept in three games by a combined score of 36-14. Losing Jackson Chourio to a broken left hand will be a setback for the Brewers, but it will allow manager Pat Murphy to see what Bauers, Brandon Lockridge, Garrett Mitchell, and Blake Perkins can do.

All in all, it was a great day for the 43,001 fans at ‘The Ueck’ and the people who watched from the comfort of their couches. Let’s hope the Brew Crew can keep it up.

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