CHICAGO -- NL Cy Young favorite Jacob Misiorowski surrendered surrendered five runs -- matching a career high -- Wednesday night against the Cubs, though his Milwaukee Brewers overcame an early deficit for their second straight win over Chicago.
Misiorowski, 24, lasted only four innings, giving up five hits and four walks -- which also tied a career high -- on 92 pitches while seeing his ERA increase to 1.97.
The rough night came amid humid temperatures which have impacted pitchers on both teams throughout the first three game of the series, two of them won by the Brewers.
"Didn't feel wonderful," Misiorowski said after Milwaukee's 9-5 victory. "Felt soggy the whole time. Weather played a factor. Lost grip. Had to make it work."
Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman tagged Misiorowski with a two-run, game-tying homer in the first inning, followed by a bases-loaded two-run single in the second. The Brewers right-hander settled in after that, pitching a scoreless third and fourth innings before coming out.
"All in all, he's going to learn a lesson from this," Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. "He didn't command his fastball. He had to bob and weave. He was slipping on the mound again early. He didn't have his perfect delivery. That's going to be a key going forward."
Misiorowski walked NL MVP favorite Pete Crow-Armstrong in the first and second innings -- though Crow-Armstrong remains hitless against Misiorowski in his career after striking out in the fourth.
The second-year pitcher finished with just five strikeouts, tied for his fewest in a start all season and fewest since mid-April.
"You start second-guessing everything," Misiorowski said. "You're trying to make pitches too big. You're trying to make things too spot on. You start leaking places. You have to calm yourself down and figure out a way to get through it."
While the Brewers offense roared back to take the lead for good in the fourth, it was Milwaukee's bullpen that impressed the most. Five relievers covered the final five innings, giving up just one hit.
"Electric," Misiorowski said of the pen. "I have a rough start and they figure out a way to get through it."
Misiorowski has been working behind the scenes on his mechanics. He threw a bullpen session on the Wrigley Field mound Monday, an unusual but not unheard of move in advance of a road start.
While Wednesday's struggles could be chalked up to the game conditions -- it was that hot and humid -- Misiorowski is still working on his game as the Brewers inch toward the postseason.
"There's stuff I can't tell you guys and I really don't want to," he said with a smile.
Meanwhile, the Cubs had a scare in the top of the ninth inning when reliever Jacob Webb took a line drive off his forearm after Christian Yelich hit a ball up the middle. Webb immediately came out of the game but X-rays were negative, according to manager Craig Counsell.
"He's in a little bit of pain and has a big bruise," Counsell said.
The four-game series concludes Thursday night, when temperatures are expected to remain above 90 degrees. With its win Wednesday, Milwaukee increased its division lead over the second-place Cubs to nine games.
