On April 7, 2026, at Fenway Park, Milwaukee Brewers starter Jacob Misiorowski delivered one of the most baffling outings of the young MLB season. The 24-year-old struck out 10 Boston Red Sox hitters and held a scoreless tie into the sixth inning, showcasing elite velocity and dominance. Then everything unraveled. He walked three consecutive batters, loading the bases before being pulled, and all three runners scored in a 3-2 loss. The sudden collapse exposed a deeper issue behind his electric rise: command and endurance under pressure. The full inning reveals exactly how quickly control slipped away.
When The Strike Zone Vanished
The collapse began right after Misiorowski recorded strikeout number 10. MLB.com reported that 55 of his first 88 pitches were strikes, but 12 of his final 13 missed the zone. He walked Jarren Duran, walked Willson Contreras, then fell behind Wilyer Abreu 3-0 before issuing a third straight free pass. In a 0-0 game, Milwaukee suddenly had the bases loaded with 1 out. A start that looked like another breakout was now hanging on the bullpen, and Fenway was finally ready to erupt that night.
Three Walks Became Three Runs
Manager Pat Murphy removed Misiorowski after the third straight walk and turned to DL Hall, who inherited a bases-loaded jam with 1 out. Trevor Story then lined a 2-run double that changed the game, and Caleb Durbin followed with an RBI groundout. Boston scored all 3 runs in the inning and held on for a 3-2 win. All 3 runners were charged to Misiorowski, though Hall allowed the contact that brought them home. The scoring told the story, but the deeper explanation ran beyond inning.
Why His Stuff Cuts Both Ways
Misiorowski’s arsenal is rare even by standards. In 2025, MLB.com reported his perceived fastball velocity averaged 101.3 mph and his perceived slider 96.8 mph, both the highest marks ever recorded for a starter in the Statcast era. That edge comes from a 7.5-foot extension that makes hitters react even faster. The same traits that make him electric also leave little margin once fatigue sets in. When his legs got heavy in Boston, the release point drifted, and suddenly every pitch looked harder to trust.
The Brewers’ Bigger Decision Starts Now
This loss did not erase Misiorowski’s upside. Through his first 4 starts of 2026, he had piled up strikeouts, showing why Milwaukee pushed him into the rotation after his rapid rise in 2025. It did, however, sharpen an old concern scouts have raised for years: can ace-level stuff hold up deep into starts often enough? Boston exposed the risk in one inning. The Brewers now have a pitcher who can dominate any lineup, and the challenge is deciding how long that dominance can last.
Sources:
Miz K’s first 5 batters, walks last 3 in roller-coaster outing at Fenway. MLB.com, April, 07 2026
Jacob Misiorowski’s unique combination of velocity and extension. MLB.com, July, 22 2025
Jacob Misiorowski named 2025 All-Star. MLB.com, July, 05 2025
Jacob Misiorowski News: Strikes out 10 in loss to Boston. RotoWire, April, 06 2026
Trevor Story’s 2 RBI double lifts Red Sox over Brewers 3-2. AP/ESPN, April, 08 2026
Trevor Story’s 2 RBI double lifts Red Sox over Brewers 3-2. Fox 11/AP, April, 06 2026
