The Milwaukee Brewers‘ magic number to clinch the National League Central is down to 19 after an explosive 8-2 victory on the road against the New York Yankees. The offense was the story of the night with each starting player notching at least one hit against a Yankees team that is most likely going to finish in the cellar of the American League East. However, not to be forgotten in the excitement of the offensive barrage is the fact that rookie flamethrower Abner Uribe earned his first Major League victory.
Uribe came into the game in the fifth inning to relieve starter Colin Rea, who allowed two runs on three hits while striking out six and walking two in 4.2 innings of work.
The first batter Uribe faced was reigning American League MVP Aaron Judge. What followed was a memorable moment for the young pitcher.
Milwaukee Brewers Reliever Abner Uribe Struck Out Aaron Judge in the 5th Inning
Judge finished the night 1-2 with a single and two walks against Brewers’ pitchers. Earlier in the game, he got his base knock against Rea and scored when New York’s own highly touted rookie Jasson Dominguez hit a two-run home run in the third inning.
After Rea got the first two Yankees batters of the fifth inning out, Brewers manager Craig Counsell opted to pull him after 85 pitches. He replaced him with Uribe who is well-known for his blazing 100+ mph fastball.
Uribe got Judge into a 2-2 count before unleashing a nasty 100.3 mph fastball with a ton of movement to strikeout the reigning MVP:
Abner Uribe 💯 pic.twitter.com/19s7wI2lRF
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 9, 2023
Uribe also pitched the sixth inning, finishing the night with no runs allowed, no hits given up, two walks, and that strikeout. His ERA on the season is down to 1.59.
After the game, Uribe discussed his big strikeout (via Todd Rosiak)
Abner Uribe talks about his big strikeout of Aaron Judge: pic.twitter.com/flKpjcGdTz
— Todd Rosiak (@Todd_Rosiak) September 9, 2023
Speaking through an interpreter, Uribe said:
“I was just trying to get another out, right? First couple of pitches I was a little quick, and then I made an adjustment. The last pitch, I just threw there to see what he had.”
Uribe also discussed how he is going to try to adjust some things to avoid circumstances like the one in the sixth inning in which he walked two batters.
The ability of the Brewers to find and develop so many great relief pitchers in recent years is really amazing. Uribe may become one of the best of them all thanks to his incredible fastball. His strikeout of Judge is truly a remarkable moment in his young career.
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