Milwaukee Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski blamed the condition of Angel Stadium's pitching mound after the rebuilding Los Angeles Angels pulled off an upset Sunday, ending the Brewers' three-game series on a sour note.
Misiorowski allowed two runs on two hits over seven innings with 10 strikeouts but expressed frustration about the field conditions after the game.
"It was awful. It was probably one of the worst mounds I've had," he told reporters. "It was dry; it was rock hard. I had the guys out there fix it three times, two times. And we got it back to being decent, but yeah, it was awful; it's bad."
The NL Central leaders fell 2-0 on a Wade Meckler two-run homer in the second inning. Still, Misiorowski acknowledged he couldn't pin the loss entirely on the mound.
"It is what it is and you can't blame it on that. And I got to do my job," he said.
Misiorowski's postgame comments have reignited longstanding complaints from players and fans about Angel Stadium's aging infrastructure. The 55-year-old facility has faced criticism throughout the season. In July, the team closed an entire seating section due to pest issues. Earlier this year, pitcher Yusei Kikuchi publicly complained about broken amenities, including a nonfunctional air conditioner in the weight room.
Angels starter Walbert Ureña, who earned the win, made no similar complaints about field conditions, prompting some observers to question whether Misiorowski was making excuses.
The Brewers salvaged the series, winning Friday and Saturday before Sunday's defeat. On Saturday, the Angels scratched starting pitcher José Soriano, citing potential trade deadline dealings ahead of Monday's deadline.
