Cooper Pratt produced the standout moment in the Brewers' early surge, hitting his first career major league home run against Freddy Peralta as Milwaukee built control of the game against the New York Mets.
That was the clearest headline in a first inning that set the tone. Freddy Peralta, who had previously pitched for the Brewers before joining the Mets in January, was tagged for a pair of runs early as Milwaukee moved quickly into an 8-3 win.
Pratt provides the breakthrough
Pratt entered the game with four extra-base hits through 97 MLB plate appearances, so the homer was a significant step forward for the Brewers infielder. It came on July 20, during the opening game of a three-game series, and it gave Milwaukee another early boost against a pitcher they knew well.
The ball traveled 393 feet, and it was the kind of swing that changes the feel of a game. The Brewers had even honored Peralta with a pregame video before tagging him in the first inning, which made the moment feel even more pointed once the runs started coming.
Peralta could not settle
Peralta's outing was mixed from the start. He allowed the Brewers' first-inning damage, then later saw the lead pushed to 5-1 in the third inning before Joey Ortiz added a three-run home run after Peralta was removed.
By the end of the night, the Brewers had their early cushion and the Mets were left chasing. For Peralta, it was a reminder that facing a former club can be unforgiving when the opposition is on the front foot.
Brewers keep the pressure on
Milwaukee's scoring sequence mattered because it kept the game moving in its favor before the Mets could find any rhythm. Jacob Misiorowski then backed that up with 64 pitches over four innings, while Pat Murphy's side continued to look comfortable after the early damage.
Murphy has already made clear that shorter outings can be part of the plan, saying, "I think we lean more toward [shorter outings]." He also added, "Keep the consistency," and described the break as a reset, saying, "We take that as kind of a reset."
On a night when the Brewers were looking for an early edge, Pratt delivered the moment that stood out most. His first major league home run was the sort of milestone that fits neatly into a winning start and gives Milwaukee another reason to feel good about the direction of the game.
