Thomas Pannone made his first Major League Baseball appearance since 2019 on May 19, 2024, pitching for the Milwaukee Brewers against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. According to MLB.com, the left-hander delivered a steady performance in relief, but defensive miscues later unraveled the Brewers’ bullpen effort in a 9-4 loss.
Pannone Returns After Five-Year MLB Gap
Pannone last pitched in the majors on September 29, 2019, for the Toronto Blue Jays. After spending subsequent seasons pitching internationally and in the minor leagues, the 30-year-old returned to the big leagues to provide length for Milwaukee. According to MLB.com, Pannone tossed 3.1 innings, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out three batters and walking one.
His return stabilized an early-season pitching staff facing various injuries and workload management issues. However, the Brewers could not convert the outing into a victory as defensive troubles mounted in the middle frames.
Defensive Miscues Undermine Milwaukee’s Bullpen
Following Pannone’s departure, the game turned on a series of defensive errors and unearned runs. According to MLB.com game accounts, the Brewers committed costly fielding mistakes that allowed the Astros to extend innings and pull away on the scoreboard.
Houston capitalized fully on the extra outs, building a comfortable lead that the Milwaukee offense could not chase down. The defensive collapse overshadowed a productive day for the Brewers’ bats, who managed several runs against Astros pitching but were undone by the miscues in the field.
Astros Capitalize to Secure Series Victory
The Astros took full advantage of the defensive lapses, executing timely hitting to break the game open in the later innings. According to MLB.com, Houston’s offense used the extra baserunners provided by the Brewers’ errors to put multi-run frames on the board, securing the victory and handing Milwaukee a tough loss on the road.
The Brewers will look to tighten up their defense as they continue their road trip, while Pannone looks to build on his first major league appearance in nearly five years and establish a consistent role in the Milwaukee pitching staff.