Kyle Harrison‘s return from the injured list began ideally for the Milwaukee Brewers, then ended abruptly.
The starting pitcher flirted with MLB history against the Pittsburgh Pirates by striking out eight consecutive batters between the third, fourth and fifth innings, but exited the game before the sixth with an apparent injury. The Brewers later announced it was due to cramping in both his calves.
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Harrison had gone out for warm-up pitches before the sixth, but soon called for a trainer and signaled discomfort. Chad Patrick relieved him and extended the strikeout streak to nine batters before walking Ronny Simon.
Harrison was two batters away from tying a record of 10 consecutive strikeouts, jointly held by Tom Seaver (1970), Aaron Nola (2021) and Corbin Burns (2021). His final line: 5 innings, 1 hit, 0 runs, 1 walk and 10 strikeouts on 69 pitches.
Harrison had been making his first MLB start since July 8 after an IL stint due to left forearm extensor tendinopathy. He made a single rehab start last week, throwing 68 pitches across 5 2/3 scoreless innings.
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The injury interrupted a breakout season for Harrison, a former top prospect who was erratic at best in his first three MLB seasons. An offseason trade saw him land with the Brewers as part of a trade with the Boston Red Sox centered around third baseman Caleb Durbin.
Despite missing a month, Harrison has still been the most valuable Brewers pitcher not named Jacob Misiorowski this season, so the team will likely respond to the cramps diagnosis with a sigh of relief, even if they did cost the pitcher a shot at history.
Harrison’s return was one half of a marquee matchup against Pirates ace Paul Skenes, whose recent struggles continued against the Brewers lineup with three runs allowed in five inning.
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