Last season, it seemed as if Corbin Burnes was the one making history every time he took the mound. Eric Lauer split time between the Major League and Triple-A levels, though showed signs of brilliance. As Lauer made the Opening Day roster as the Brewers fifth starter, few expected him to be the one making history in 2022. However, that is exactly what Lauer did in the Brewers 1-0 series-clinching win over the Philadelphia Phillies.
Eric Lauer’s Stat Line
Eric Lauer threw 98 pitches over six shutout innings. He allowed five hits and one walk. Here is where history was made, though: Lauer struck out 13 batters. The 13 batters was easily his career high. Lauer’s previous career-high was nine strikeouts, which he accomplished last season against the New York Mets. In his previous two starts this season, Lauer notched five strikeouts in each contest.
Eric Lauer Is the Second Lefty In Brewers History with a 13-Strikeout Game
In the decades-long history of the Milwaukee Brewers, only one other lefty ever had 13 strikeouts in a game. That was Teddy Higuera, who did it three times. Higuera pitched for the Brewers for nine seasons. He compiled a record of 94-64 with a 3.61 ERA. He was an All-Star in 1986 when he went 20-11 with a 2.79 ERA and 1.21 WHIP.
A record-tying night for @e_lauer10, who struck out 13 to tie Teddy Higuera (3x) for the most in a game by a lefty in franchise history.#ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/Qtpc4fOuEo
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) April 25, 2022
More Interesting History about Lauer’s Performance
Anyone who follows the Brewers knows about their three All-Star starters. Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, and Freddy Peralta have all racked up big strikeout numbers in multiple games. If it seems like it has been a while since any other starter reached even 12 strikeouts, that is because it had been almost seven years! The last Brewers pitcher not named Burnes, Woodruff, or Peralta to have 12 strikeouts in a game was Mike Fiers back on May 2, 2015.
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