Cardinals' Herrera Beats 105 MPH Heat With Machine Training

Iván Herrera of the St. Louis Cardinals devised an unusual strategy to prepare for Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski, a National League Cy Young favorite known for fastballs exceeding 105 mph. Herrera utilized a pitching machine set to spit out foam baseballs at 107 mph or faster in pre-game batting practice. This method aimed to make Misiorowski's heat appear slower during the actual game.

Herrera's tactic proved successful, as he connected with a blistering triple-digit fastball from Misiorowski for a 378-foot home run in the third inning, momentarily putting the Cardinals ahead 3-2. The 26-year-old outfielder has been performing at a high level this season, batting .255 with 11 home runs and 40 RBIs.

Despite Herrera's impressive feat against the Cy Young candidate, the Cardinals could not secure a victory. They lost the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader, continuing a difficult stretch that has seen them drop the first two games of their five-game series with the Brewers. St. Louis is contending for a wild-card spot and faces tough upcoming games against Milwaukee and the Atlanta Braves before the All-Star break.