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Jacob Misiorowski dominates Rockies, setting a Brewers strikeout record with historic heat The Rockies were on the wrong end of another Jacob Misiorowski chapter in baseball history.
Milwaukee Brewers Jacob Misiorowski pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Sunday, July 26, 2026, in Milwaukee.
As Colorado dropped the series on Sunday at American Family Field in an 11-2 loss, Misiorowski was nearly unhittable through five innings.
The Brewers right-handed ace set a Milwaukee record with seven strikeouts to begin the game, two Ks short of tying the MLB record.
The all-star struck out 12 of the first 13 hitters he faced.topped his own record in the pitch-tracking era for the most 100-plus mph pitches in a game and most 102-plus mph pitches in a game .His heater averaged 102.8 mph and topped outand he was the first pitcher in the divisional era with 11 Ks and no hits through the first four innings of a game.
Rookie outfielder Cole Carrigg was the lone Colorado player to dent Misiorowskis masterful afternoon.
With two outs in the fifth, Carrigg homered 361 feet to left field on a two-strike, 101.9 mph fastball, the fastest pitch a Colorado player has ever homered off in the pitch-tracking era.Colorado Rockies' Cole Carrigg rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Sunday, July 26, 2026, in Milwaukee.
It was yet another performance that underscored Misiorowskis generational talent and served as a reminder of the type of dynamic pitching talent the Rockies need to find and develop in their homegrown rotation in order to become competitive again.Misiorowski was a second-round pick out of Crowder College in 2022, meaning every other team passed on him before the Brewers saw enough potential in the junior college pitcher at No.
63 overall.
Its those type of finds that make the Brewers, MLBs small-market darlings, perennially competitive.
Theyve made the playoffs seven of the last eight years, including the National League Championship Series last season.Meanwhile, the Rockies usually with a higher payroll havent been to the postseason since 2018.
While Misiorowski dominated, Kyle Freeland had a rough first inning.
The Brewers plated three runs as Freeland had a throwing error on a bunt and another run scored on a wild pitch.
In the fifth, Andrew Vaughn homered off Freeland to make it 4-1, then Colorados bullpen unraveled as Jimmy Herget gave up four runs and Victor Vodnik gave up two runs., but the offense showed fight in the final inning thats indicative of how much better the clubs swung it on the road this year.
After averaging a measly 2.81 runs per game on the road during the 119-loss 2025 season, the Rockies are averaging 4.44 runs per game on the road in 26.
Colorado fought until the end on Saturday, scoring three runs and forcing the Brewers to bring in closer Trevor Megill to get the final out.Down 8-2, TJ Rumfield led off the ninth with a walk by Lance McCullers Jr.
The Rockies took advantage of an error, then Ezequiel Tovar walked and Jake McCarthy roped a two-RBI single to end McCullers night.
Kyle Karros then singled off Megill to make it 8-5, bring the tying run to the plate in Carrigg.
But Megill Kd Carrigg to end the game with Hunter Goodman standing in the on-deck circle.That ninth-inning effort was too little, too late, but it underscored Colorados offensive improvement on the road across all categories this year.
After batting .203 away from Coors Field in 25, the Rockies were hitting .239 this season entering Sunday, with a .707 OPS compared to .589 last year.
, Sugano spun a second straight strong start to open his second half.
He threw five-plus innings of two-run ball in Colorados wire-to-wire win.Pitching on a one year, $5.1 million deal, the 36-year-olds been a solid veteran addition to prop up a thin rotation better than Michael Lorenzen and the bust of a signing in Jose Quintana, who has been on the injured list since May with a left elbow sprain.
In his 10 wins out of his 18 starts, the right-handers been stellar, with a 3.46 ERA.Hes the first Rockies starter with 10 wins since German Marquez in 2021, and one of four Rockies pitchers all-time with 10 wins over his first 18 starts with the club.
Hes certainly made a strong case to be trade bait ahead of the Aug.
3 deadline, although Colorado could also re-sign him to another one-year deal for a rotation that is going to need some holes filled in for 27.At 36, hes not a long-term solution, but could be an effective bridge to younger, homegrown starters if the Rockies dont get a decent offer at the deadline.
Whatever happens with Sugano, his performance over the last couple games is a reminder of the team that Colorado with a revived offense can be with decent starting pitching.Colorado starters have thrown at least five innings in 34 of Colorados 42 wins this year, and the team is 30-14 when starters throw at least five innings and allow three or fewer earned runs.