MILWAUKEE (AP) — Kyle Harrison struck out the final eight batters he faced, William Contreras homered and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-2 on Wednesday night.
Harrison (9-2) gave up one hit and one walk while striking out 10 in five innings in his first start since July 8 after an IL stint due to left forearm tightness. It was the fourth time this season and sixth time in his career he reached double digit strikeouts.
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Pittsburgh Pirates' Endy Rodríguez hits a two-run home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Milwaukee Brewers' Trevor Megill reacts after recording a save during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Milwaukee Brewers' William Contreras gestures as he crosses home plate after hitting a solo home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Milwaukee Brewers' Kyle Harrison pitches during the second inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Milwaukee Brewers' Kyle Harrison pitches during the second inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Harrison took the mound to warm up for the sixth, but abruptly left before the inning began. Milwaukee later said he had cramps in both calves. He had the second-longest strikeout streak in Brewers history behind Corbin Burnes, who tied the major league record with 10 straight in 2021.
Abner Uribe retired all three batters faced in the eighth inning, and Trevor Megill earned his 20th save with a perfect ninth.
One day after being booed by his team’s fans, Christian Yelich delivered an RBI double in the fourth inning to give the Brewers a 1-0 lead. Andrew Vaughn immediately added a single to right field, which sent both Yelich and William Contreras home.
They were Milwaukee’s only two hits off Paul Skenes (9-10), who issued a leadoff walk to Brice Turang in the first before retiring 10 in a row. Lake Bachar, who replaced Skenes at the start of the sixth, gave up a solo home run to Contreras that put the Brewers ahead 4-0.
Endy Rodriguez hit a two-run home run in the seventh to pull the Pirates to 4-2.
Dustin May (5-7, 4.38 ERA) was set to make his first start as a Brewer on Thursday, facing Braxton Ashcraft (11-4, 3.96 ERA) in the series finale.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Pittsburgh Pirates' Endy Rodríguez hits a two-run home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Milwaukee Brewers' Trevor Megill reacts after recording a save during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Milwaukee Brewers' William Contreras gestures as he crosses home plate after hitting a solo home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Milwaukee Brewers' Kyle Harrison pitches during the second inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Milwaukee Brewers' Kyle Harrison pitches during the second inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
CLEVELAND (AP) — New York Mets rookie Jefry Yan jumped high in the air with his feet spread apart, landed on the front of the mound and then slapped the grass with his left hand while briefly going to a knee.
It was an emphatic celebration for the 29-year-old left-hander after striking out the first batter he faced in his major league debut during the Mets' 6-5 win in Cleveland on Wednesday night.
“Honestly, I was really excited. I was also a little nervous,” Yan said through a translator.
Yan's viral moment came after pinch-hitter Angel Martínez took an 88.7 mph slider for a called third strike to open the Guardians sixth. After the leap and slap, Yan stood straight up with his feet together and lifted both arms over his head.
“Once I had him with two strikes I said, you know what, I'm going to throw that slider,” he said. “And if I freeze him, which is exactly what I did, I celebrated accordingly.”
That was already a signature celebration for Yan, who did the same after striking out a batter in a Mets spring training game earlier this year.
After Martínez struck out, the Guardians loaded the bases on two singles and a walk. But Yan escaped without giving up a run with his second strikeout and an inning-ending grounder.
“Once I was able to get out of the inning, I said, you know, I can finally breathe right here," he said.
Mets interim manager Andy Green added: “It’s real stuff. It’s really impressive. To get out of a bases-loaded jam, get your first punchout, just excited for him. He deserves that.”
Yan bounded off the mound, slapping his hand against his glove several times, after the inning ended. Cleveland fans booed as Yan went to the dugout with the Mets ahead 4-3.
“If they want to yell at me, if they want to boo me, they can do whatever they want,” Yan said. “I’m in my zone. And yeah, I’m going to enjoy my game any way that I want to.”
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
New York Mets relief pitcher Jefry Yan makes his Major League debut and delivers against the Cleveland Guardians during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
After striking out Cleveland Guardians' Angel Martinez during his Major League debut, New York Mets relief pitcher Jefry Yan reacts during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)