Full Breakdown
Dustin May’s One-Pitch Exit Highlights Brewers’ Resilience vs. Mets
8/28/2026, 2:00:01 AM
The Incident: One Pitch, One Injury
Milwaukee right-hander Dustin May was struck in the upper back by a 106 mph line drive off the bat of Mets leadoff hitter A.J. Ewing in the bottom of the first inning. The ball ricocheted off May’s right scapula, bounced to third baseman David Hamilton, and resulted in a force out at first. May immediately grimaced, bent forward and clutched the area around his right shoulder blade. After a brief evaluation by manager Pat Murphy and the team trainer, May attempted a few warm-up pitches but was removed from the mound. The injury was diagnosed as a bruised right scapula; X-rays were negative.
Immediate Game Impact
Despite losing their starter after a single pitch, the Brewers held on to defeat the New York Mets 8–1. Left-hander Robert Gasser, originally slated to pitch later, entered in relief and delivered 5 1/3 innings of one-run ball, striking out six. Relievers Grant Anderson and Bryse Wilson combined for three hits over 3 1/3 shutout innings to preserve the lead. The offense, led by Brice Turang’s three-run homer and RBI singles from Sal Frelick, Garrett Mitchell, and Christian Yelich, built an early cushion that the bullpen protected.
Background: May’s Season and Recent Acquisition
May joined Milwaukee at the trade deadline from the St. Louis Cardinals. In his first 25 starts of the 2024 season he posted a 6-8 record with a 4.56 ERA over 124 1/3 innings. He has undergone two Tommy John surgeries and, in 2024, required life-saving surgery after an esophageal tear suffered while dining.
Data & Statistics
- Season line: 6-8, 4.56 ERA, 124 1/3 IP.
- Game line: Brewers 8, Mets 1.
- Gasser’s relief: 5 1/3 IP, 1 run, 6 K.
- Anderson & Wilson: 3 hits, 0 runs over 3 1/3 IP.
- Turang’s homer: first since July 31.
- Historical note: May became the first major-league starter to exit after one pitch since Pablo López on July 2, 2021 (ESPN, Sportsnet).
Official Statements & Responses
Pat Murphy explained that the staff opted for caution, emphasizing player health over immediate game needs.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The Brewers’ season record is reported as 82-51 by Fox News and 82-50 by Sportsnet, a minor discrepancy that has not been clarified by the team. No further details on May’s expected recovery timeline have been released.
Verbatim Quotes
“We planned just using May as an opener,” — Pat Murphy, staff and manager
“Definitely something I haven’t had to experience before,” — Robert Gasser
What’s Next
Milwaukee will host the Mets again on Thursday at 7:10 p.m. ET as the series finale approaches. May’s availability for that start depends on his recovery assessment.
