Thornton's Rookie Triumph
Rookie Zac Thornton Secures First MLB Win, Mets Shut Out Brewers 4-0
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Key Points
1
Devin Williams pitched the ninth for Milwaukee, returning to Milwaukee for the first time since the Brewers traded him to the Yankees after the 2024 season.
2
Carson Benge hit a two-run double in the fifth, extending the Mets' lead after Francisco Lindor doubled to start the back-to-back doubles sequence.
3
Jared Young belted a 393-foot homer in the second inning to give New York an early lead.
4
Zac Thornton, in his fourth big-league start, worked six scoreless innings, allowing three hits and one walk while striking out two, and has now delivered an 18-inning scoreless streak.
5
Paul Thornton, Zac’s father, underwent spinal tumor surgery in April that left him paralyzed and using a wheelchair; he’s described as relearning how to walk while remaining a former track coach.
Zac Thornton earned his first major-league win Tuesday night as the New York Mets shut out the Milwaukee Brewers 4-0, according to MLB. The 24-year-old left-hander threw six scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out two.
The win snapped Milwaukee's four-game winning streak and evened the series. Thornton has now thrown 18 straight scoreless innings — the longest such streak by a Mets rookie since Steven Matz in 2016, per MLB.
Thornton Dominates One of Baseball's Best Offenses
In just his fourth big-league start, Thornton was sharp from the first pitch. He held the Brewers to three hits across six innings. Three relievers then took over, and the group combined for a four-hit shutout, per MLB.
Thornton's 18-inning scoreless run is a remarkable feat for any pitcher, let alone a rookie. Milwaukee entered the game as one of baseball's hottest teams, making the performance even more impressive, according to WMTV15 News.
Homers and a Key Double Power the Mets' Offense
Jared Young got the Mets on the board fast. He hit a 393-foot homer in the second inning to put New York up early. Luis Robert Jr. added to the lead with a massive 451-foot shot — his first hit since returning from a back injury, per MLB.
The Mets broke the game open in the fifth inning. Francisco Lindor doubled to start a rally, and Carson Benge followed with a two-run double. That sequence pushed New York's lead to 4-0 and gave Thornton plenty of cushion, according to Times Gazette.
Sproat Faces Former Team After January Trade
Brandon Sproat started for Milwaukee and took the loss. He gave up two runs in 4 2/3 innings. Tuesday marked his first game against the Mets since Milwaukee acquired him in a January trade, per MLB.
Devin Williams pitched the ninth inning for Milwaukee. It was his first time back in Milwaukee since the Brewers traded him to the New York Yankees after the 2024 season, according to MLB.
Thornton's Father Watched From the Stands After Tumor Surgery
Behind Thornton's win was a powerful personal story. His father, Paul Thornton, a former track coach, underwent surgery for a spinal tumor in April. The surgery left him paralyzed and in a wheelchair. He is now relearning how to walk, per WMTV15 News.
Paul Thornton was in the stands to watch his son pitch Tuesday night. Zac Thornton shut down one of baseball's best offenses with his father watching. It was a moment that went well beyond baseball, according to Times Gazette.
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