Chicago Cubs rookie right-hander Ben Brown made MLB history with his unstoppable performance against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday.
Braun, who was making just his sixth start and 13th appearance of his major league career, had allowed just three runs in the entire month of May. He continued his strong form on Tuesday at American Family Field, pitching a perfect game through the fifth inning.
Braun regained his composure after issuing two walks in the bottom of the fifth and continued to dismantle the Brewers’ lineup, needing a home run from Cody Bellinger in the seventh to stay scoreless, but still going hitless through seven innings.
Braun struck out 10 before leaving the game in the top of the eighth. The Cubs’ relief pitchers forced the Brewers into extra innings, costing Braun the win, but Chicago held on to win 6-3.
According to OptaSTATS, Braun became just the second pitcher in modern history to strike out 10 or more batters and pitch a scoreless, hitless game in his first MLB season. The first to accomplish this feat was Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes, who did so less than two weeks ago on May 17.
In the modern era, there are two pitchers who have struck out 10 or more batters and pitched a no-run, no-hitter game in their first MLB season.
Both did so within the past 12 days (Paul Skenes) @Pirate On May 17, Ben Brown Cubs tonight). pic.twitter.com/CvkZ0ZPfiO
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) May 29, 2024
Braun made his MLB debut on March 30, pitching 1.2 innings of relief against the Texas Rangers. Although he gave up six runs in that game, the 24-year-old has performed very well since then.
Over the Browns’ last 12 games, they have a 1.61 ERA, a 0.940 WHIP and a .174 batting average against. Overall this season, the Browns are 1-1 with a 2.72 ERA, a 1.058 WHIP, 10.7 strikeouts per nine innings and a 1.4 WAR.
Brown entered the Cubs’ farm system as the 11th overall prospect in 2024.
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