Misiorowski exits Brewers debut with leg cramps after holding Cardinals hitless for 5 innings

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski insisted he didn't realize he had a no-hitter going when the 23-year-old flamethrower took the mound for the sixth inning of his dazzling major league debut.

“I had no clue,” Misiorowski said after Milwaukee's 6-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday night. “I thought one of the popups landed.”

The Brewers couldn't quite complete the no-no — but they might have gotten even better news. It appears the injury that knocked the 6-foot-7 right-hander out of the game wasn't serious.

Misiorowski, 23, had just thrown a third straight ball to Victor Scott to open the sixth when his foot landed awkwardly on the front of the mound. After Brewers medical staff went out to check on him, Misiorowski exited the game and Nick Mears came out of the bullpen.

The Brewers later said Misiorowski left due to cramping in his right calf and quadriceps.

“Of course, I don’t want to leave like that,” Misiorowski said. “I feel like I could have kept going, but I cramped up. Stuff happens.”

Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy said Misiorowski also may have turned an ankle.

Misiorowski indicated there's no reason to worry.

“All good,” he replied to a postgame question about how he felt.

Until Misiorowski's untimely exit, his debut couldn't have gone much better as he showcased the elite velocity that made him one of baseball's top pitching prospects.

“I don't think it was anywhere near what I thought,” Misiorowski said. “I thought I was going to give up a few hits, get your ‘welcome to the show’ kind of experience. I just kind of rolled with it.”

Control always has been the concern as Misiorowski worked his way up the ladder in the Brewers' farm system, and he did have four walks Thursday. But he also struck out five while lighting up the radar gun all night.

He reached 100 mph with each of the first three pitches he threw to Lars Nootbaar to start the game. Two pitches later, Nootbaar fouled off a 102.2 mph offering. According to MLB.com, that 102.2 mph pitch was the fastest by any Brewers starter since pitch tracking began in 2008.

Statcast indicated 14 of the 81 pitches Misiorowski threw — including 11 of his first 24 — reached at least 100 mph. According to MLB.com, the only pitchers since 2008 to throw more pitches of at least 100 mph in their debuts were Hunter Greene in 2022, Erik Cordier in 2014, Paul Skenes in 2024 and Mason Miller in 2023.

“We've done a good job this year (against) guys we haven't faced and guys just coming up and making their debuts, just taking a good approach,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. “But that's a different arm, man. He did a nice job. The velo is real. The extension is real.”

Misiorowski's velocity shouldn't have come as a surprise. While pitching for the Brewers’ Triple-A Nashville affiliate last month, Misiorowski threw a 103 mph pitch, the fastest recorded by a true starter in the majors or minors since Statcast began tracking in 2015.

In his big league debut, Misiorowski averaged 99.1 mph on 41 four-seam fastballs. He mixed in 24 sliders, 11 curveballs and two changeups, throwing 49 of 81 pitches for strikes. He got 13 swings and misses: seven on fastballs, four on sliders and one each on the curve and changeup.

“He was impressive every way you look at it,” Murphy said. “I think he was super nervous before the game, and that's to be expected, but I think he handled it really, really well.”

Now he must try to build on this sensational debut. Misiorowski's new teammates believe he's up to the challenge.

“I think he's shown that he's ready,” left-hander Aaron Ashby said. “He's asking the right questions. He's doing the right things. He's preparing himself the right way.”

Ashby allowed a leadoff single to Willson Contreras in the seventh that broke up Milwaukee's no-hit bid, but he worked three innings to earn his third career save. Ashby and Misiorowski both come from Crowder College in Neosho, Missouri, though they didn't play there at the same time.

The fact that Misiorowski said he felt fine after his worrisome finish should help Brewers fans sleep better before his next start.

They aren't alone in that regard. Misiorowski is happy he won't have to deal with another restless night now that his debut is out of the way.

“I haven't slept for probably two days,” he said. “It's going to be nice to go home and actually sleep.”

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski, left, walks off the field with head athletic trainer Brad Epstein, second from left, during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Thursday, June 12, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski high-fives teammates after exiting a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals due to an ankle injury during the sixth inning of his major league debut Thursday, June 12, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski reacts after throwing his first strikeout, against St. Louis Cardinals' Willson Contreras, as he makes his major league debut during the second inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 12, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski throws his first strikeout, against St. Louis Cardinals' Willson Contreras, as he makes his major league debut during the second inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 12, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski (33) walks through the dugout before warming up for his major league debut in a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Thursday, June 12, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski, center, runs onto the field to warm up for his major league debut in a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Thursday, June 12, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski throws against St. Louis Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar as he makes his major league debut during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 12, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski throws against St. Louis Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar as he makes his major league debut during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 12, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)

LONDON (AP) — Jannik Sinner is one set away from a first Wimbledon title, leading defending champion Carlos Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in Sunday's men's final.

Sinner broke Alcaraz for a 5-4 lead in the third set in the highly anticipated meeting that comes just five weeks after the pair played an epic match to determine the French Open champion.

In the second set, Sinner broke Alcaraz in the opening game and then held serve the rest of the way. That was despite being interrupted by a fan in the stands popping open a champagne bottle as Sinner was getting ready to serve out the game at 2-1 up. The cork landed at Sinner's feet, causing Alcaraz to raise both hands and shake his head in frustration.

Sinner lost the following point but went on to hold for a 3-1 lead.

The matchup at Centre Court between the No. 1-ranked Sinner and No. 2 Alcaraz marks the first time the same two men faced off in the title matches on the clay at Roland-Garros and the grass at the All England Club in the same year since Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal did it in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Alcaraz, a 22-year-old from Spain, defeated Sinner, a 22-year-old from Italy, in five sets spread over 5 hours, 29 minutes in Paris on June 8, coming back from a two-set deficit and saving three match points along the way.

That made Alcaraz 5-0 in Grand Slam finals, including victories in 2023 and 2024 at Wimbledon.

He also carries a career-best 24-match winning streak into Sunday and has beaten Sinner five times in a row.

Sinner owns three major trophies and is playing in his fourth consecutive Slam final — but first at the All England Club.

He won the U.S. Open last September and the Australian Open this January.

Sinner is wearing the tape and arm sleeve to protect his right elbow that he has been using since falling in the opening game of his fourth-round win on Monday. After eliminating 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic in the semifinals, Sinner said he didn't think his elbow would be an issue on Sunday.

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Jannik Sinner of Italy reacts during the men's singles final match against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Sunday, July 13, 2025.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain slips as he returns a shot by Italy's Jannik Sinner in the men's singles final at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Joanna Chan)

Jannik Sinner of Italy reacts during the men's singles final match against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Sunday, July 13, 2025.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Britain's Prince William, right, Kate, Princess of Wales, Prince George and Princess Charlotte arrive at the Royal Box to watch Jannik Sinner of Italy and Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during their men's singles final match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Sunday, July 13, 2025.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Crowds pack the stands of Centre Court before Italy's Jannik Sinner plays Carlos Alcaraz of Spain in the men's singles final at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Jannik Sinner of Italy and Novak Djorkovic of Serbia shake hands after the men's semifinal singles match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Friday, July 11, 2025.(AP Photo/Joanna Chan)

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates winning the men's semifinal singles match against Taylor Fritz of the U.S. at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Friday, July 11, 2025.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

FILE - Winner Spain's Carlos Alcaraz, right, and second placed Italy's Jannik Sinner pose with trophies after the final match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File)