Brewers clinch World Series title as Misiorowski pitches through cramps

Jacob Misiorowski held the Tampa Bay Rays at bay despite a leg cramp, guiding the Milwaukee Brewers to their first World Series championship. The Brewers defeated the Rays 4-1 on Wednesday in Game 5 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. Misiorowski allowed two hits over 5 2/3 scoreless innings before leaving the game with a right calf cramp. The team maintained a four-run lead when he exited.

The 24-year-old right-hander recorded only two strikeouts, tying his career low for a game. He threw 86 pitches, with 51 reaching 100 mph or higher. His velocity peaked at 103 mph, a mark he hit twice in the first inning. Tampa Bay’s grounds crew made multiple trips to the mound to repair a divot created by Misiorowski’s long stride. Head athletic trainer Brad Epstein accompanied the pitcher off the mound after the cramp set in. The ailment was similar to one that forced him from two starts in May.

Misiorowski finished the postseason with a 0.84 ERA and a 2-0 record. He struck out five batters in 10 2/3 innings. His workload was heavy, totaling 193 2/3 innings across the regular season and playoffs. That total represented a jump from his 141 1/3 innings pitched last year. Catcher and World Series MVP William Contreras credited Misiorowski with the team's success. Contreras stated that the pitcher deserves the National League Cy Young Award and the recognition coming his way.

The season started slowly for Misiorowski. He made his debut and was selected to the All-Star team just one month later. He posted a 4.36 ERA with 87 strikeouts in 66 innings during that early stretch. He then dominated the latter half of the year, finishing 16-5. He became the fourth pitcher since 1950 to lead the majors in ERA, strikeouts, and opponents’ batting average in the same season. His stats included a 1.80 ERA, 252 strikeouts, and a .157 opponents’ batting average.

Misiorowski threw 1,115 pitches at 100 mph or faster this year. He broke the previous record of 673 set by Jordan Hicks of St. Louis in 2018. His fastest pitch of the season was a 105.5 mph strike thrown to Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong on June 27. Batters managed to foul off more of his pitches in the postseason compared to the regular season. Misiorowski noted that he felt sick before the final game but relied on his fiancée for support. He described the performance as insane given his physical condition.

The Brewers secured the title with the win in Game 5. Misiorowski’s performance capped a record-setting year that will likely earn him the Cy Young Award next month. The team will now prepare for the offseason following the clinch in Florida.