Luzardo strikes out 12 in 1st career shutout as Phils bop Braves, 1-0
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PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Jesús Luzardo struck out 12 and tossed two-hit ball in his first career shutout in 150 starts and Kyle Schwarber hit a solo homer in the eighth inning to lead the Philadelphia Phillies to a 1-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Monday.
The Phillies split a four-game series with the NL East-leading Braves and cut the division lead to four games.
The NL pitcher of the month for August, Luzardo (14-5) didn’t walk a batter until the ninth inning and retired the final two batters to complete the 109-pitch gem in 1 hour, 51 minutes. He threw 78 strikes.
Luzardo had another sensational outing that continues to make the Phillies look smart for not allowing the lefty to test free agency at the end of the season. He signed a $135 million, five-year contract in March and has gone out and pitched every bit like a Game 1 playoff starter.
Schwarber got him the win when he hit his MLB-leading 43rd homer into the second deck against reliever Didier Fuentes (5-2).
Atlanta starter Grant Holmes struck out six and tossed three-hit ball over six innings. He struck out the side in the third and threw six shutout innings for the sixth time this season.
The Phillies loaded the bases with two outs against Holmes in the first only to waste the scoring opportunity when Bryson Stott lined out to center to end the inning. Holmes also retired Luiz Arrez to end the seventh and leave a runner stranded on third.
Philadelphia fans reveled in booing Braves slugger and Phillies foil Ronald Acuña Jr. in each of his four plate appearances. Acuña hit a tying three-run homer in Sunday’s 5-4 win and gave himself a curtain call to the irritation of Phillies fans.
He walked in the ninth but was left on base when Ozzie Albies flew out to end the game.
Up next
The Braves send RHP AJ Smith-Shawver (0-1, 7.13 ERA) to the mound Tuesday against Tampa Bay in the start of a six-game homestand. The homestand ends with three games against the Phillies.
The Phillies start RHP Andrew Painter (3-8, 5.55 ERA) Tuesday in the first game of a three-game set against Houston.
Orioles 6, Guardians 4
BALTIMORE (AP) -- Trevor Rogers pitched into the eighth inning, Coby Mayo homered twice and the Baltimore Orioles took advantage of Cleveland’s wildness on the mound, beating the Guardians 6-4 on Monday to snap a six-game losing streak.
Rogers (10-9) allowed a run on six hits. The Orioles pulled within three games of Cleveland for the final AL wild card. The Guardians fell to a half-game ahead of Toronto, which played later Monday out west against the Athletics.
The Orioles scored only one run over their previous three games against Boston, but Joey Cantillo (9-9) did plenty to help them out of their slump, allowing three hits and five walks and hitting two batters in 2 1/3 innings. Baltimore left eight runners on base in the first three innings but still led 4-0.
Pinch-hitter Nathaniel Lowe hit a three-run homer in the ninth for Cleveland off Andrew Kittredge. Josh Walker got the final out for his first career save.
Cleveland’s Steven Kwan led off the game with a groundball single up the middle. He was quickly erased on a double play, and Rogers retired everyone else he faced until the Guardians strung together three straight hits with two outs in the sixth.
Cantillo and reliever Franco Aleman combined to throw 102 pitches in the first three innings -- just two fewer than Rogers needed to go 7 1/3.
Dylan Beavers doubled home a run in the second, and Mayo hit a solo shot in the third. With the bases loaded, Blaze Alexander drew an 11-pitch walk off Aleman, and Pete Alonso followed with another walk to make it 4-0.
Jo Adell’s bloop double landed barely fair in right field in the sixth to bring home the first Cleveland run. Mayo had a two-run homer in the bottom half for his first career multihomer game.
Mayo’s homer off Cantillo brought his season total against left-handers to a major league-leading 16. He has 21 overall.
Cantillo is tied for the major league lead with 77 walks.
Plate umpire Chris Guccione left the game in the second inning after being hit in the mask by a foul tip.
Up next
Brandon Young (9-3) starts for Baltimore on Tuesday night against Tanner Bibee (5-15) of the Guardians.