Jesus Luzardo silenced the previously undefeated Los Angeles Dodgers, blanking the defending champions over seven innings as the Philadelphia Phillies posted a 3-2 win on Friday.
Acquired in an offseason trade with the Miami Marlins, Luzardo (2-0) struck out eight while allowing just two hits and a pair of walks. Batterymate J.T. Realmuto ended the eighth and ninth innings by throwing out a runner at second base as Philadelphia survived some anxious moments down the stretch.
Tommy Edman hit a two-run homer in the ninth against Jordan Romano, making it 3-2. With one out, Romano then walked Will Smith, who was replaced by pinch runner Chris Taylor. Romano rallied to strike out Max Muncy moments before Realmuto threw out Taylor at second (after a manager’s challenge) to hand the Dodgers their first loss in nine games this season.
Philadelphia opened the scoring in the first inning. Trea Turner doubled and then took off for third on an early steal. Los Angeles starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto (1-1) rushed his throw to third, where Miguel Rojas was not quite at the bag. The throw sailed into foul territory, allowing Turner to score.
Luzardo was in command from the start, retiring the side in order in four of the first five innings. The lone exception was the second inning, when Teoscar Hernandez singled to open the frame, but Luzardo responded by striking out the next three hitters.
In the sixth, Luzardo walked Andy Pages with one out before striking out Shohei Ohtani and then picking off Pages to end the frame.
Luzardo ran into some more trouble in the seventh, as Los Angeles put runners on the corners with two outs. However, he struck out Enrique Hernandez to escape the jam.
Philadelphia created a bit of breathing room in the seventh, scoring twice against reliever Kirby Yates. Bryson Stott delivered an RBI single and then Brandon Marsh knocked in an insurance run with a grounder to make it 3-0.
The Dodgers promptly put some pressure on reliever Matt Strahm in the eighth. Rojas singled with one out and Ohtani singled with two away, bringing Mookie Betts to the plate as the tying run.
However, Realmuto nailed Ohtani trying to steal second to end the inning.
–Field Level Media
