Jesús Luzardo allowed a career-high in runs scored and hits as the Philadelphia Phillies dropped their Saturday afternoon matchup against the Milwaukee Brewers 17-7. The Brewers’ 17 runs and 21 hits were the most allowed by the Phillies all season, usurping the previous highs set by the St. Louis Cardinals earlier this month. Luzardo took his first loss of the 2025 season as the Phils lost just their second series of the month as May comes to a close.
Pre-game lineup gymnastics
Hours before the first pitch was even thrown on Saturday afternoon, the mind games were already going between Phillies’ manager Rob Thomson and Brewers’ manager Pat Murphy. With right-hander Chad Patrick scheduled to start the game on Saturday, Thomson told the team Friday night they would go with their usual right-handed lineup, with Bryson Stott at leadoff.
We sent our line-up out last night as if the righty was starter,” said Thomson. “We found out this morning that they were gonna go to an opener. They probably got a lefty, and then an hour ago, whatever it was, they decided to go back to the righty.”1
Late Saturday morning, the Brewers changed their starting pitch to Rob Zastryzny, a left-hander. Thomson responded by switching the lineup to the left-handed variant with Trea Turner leading off. This was the lineup that was originally put out to the public. Less than an hour later, the Brewers went back to right-hander Patrick, so Thomson responded by putting Stott back at leadoff.
Vintage Rhys at the Bank
The Brewers claimed game one with a combination of speed and power, featuring a combined five stolen bases on the night. Jackson Chourio kept the pace going instantly in game two, slipping a single into center field on the second pitch of the game. While William Contreras was up to the plate, Chourio stole second base, his 11th of the season. Following a walk from Contreras, Christian Yelich singled to score Chourio.
Then Rhys Hoskins stepped to the plate. Hoskins went 0-for-5 the night before with three strikeouts. Intending to change that direction real quick, Hoskins a 2-1 fastball from Luzardo deep into left-center field, 408 feet and into the stands. A mix of applause and boos rained down on the former Phil as he trotted the bases, giving his current team a 4-0 lead over his former.
Following a fly-out from Stott to leadoff the bottom of the first, Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber hit back-to-back singles into right field, extending each of their on-base streaks to a dozen games. The pair wouldn’t advance further, however, as Alec Bohm was caught looking on a third strike and Nick Castellanos grounded out to short.
After Luzardo retired the eight and nine-hole hitters for the Brewers, Chourio decided to skip the stolen base, instead hitting a double into left field. Contreras then took the next pitch into left field. With Chourio breaking for home, Max Kepler threw a laser to home plate, allowing J.T. Realmuto to put the tag on and prevent Chourio from scoring, ending the inning.
Chaos ensues in the fourth
The fourth inning began with Sal Frelick, who caught a 1-2 sweeper and drove it into right-center field. Castellanos dove to make the play, connecting with his glove but failing to hold onto the ball as Frelick would strolled into second base.
Though no error was called on that play, an error would soon follow as Caleb Durbin bunted to advance Frelick. Luzardo fielded the ball on the third base-side of the bag and tried to throw out Durbin at second. Durbin but the throw, but the throw sailed past Alec Bohm, allowing Frelick to score on the error. Given that there were no outs at the time, the run was ruled earned.
But don’t worry, the fun is only just getting started.
On a pitch to Joey Ortiz, Durbin broke to steal second base as Luzardo began his motion. Luzardo then set his foot down to throw to first instead in an attempt to catch Durbin stealing. Bohm threw to second, where Stott attempted to drop a tag while colliding with a sliding Durbin. The runner is called safe as Luzardo is charged with a balk. Luzardo started to plead his case with umpire Dan Iassogna when Thomson came out to defend his starting pitcher. The resulting feud ended in Thomson being ejected from the ballgame.
“His explanation to me,” Thomson said post-game, “the third base umpire called it. His explanation to me was that at the top of his leg lift, he stopped. That’s first time I’ve ever heard of that. So that’s why he called he balk. My question to him was why didn’t the umpire at first base call it?”
When the dust settled on the inning, the Brewers scored eight runs on the inning. Hoskins hit his second three-run home run of the game and Luzardo exited the game after only 3.1 innings of work.
Saturday’s outing will go down as the worst of Luzardo’s seven-year career as he allowed 12 runs on 12 hits and three walks.
Goodbye run differential
As rain began to fall at Citizens Bank Park, Alec Bohm attempted to get momentum going in the Phillies’ direction. Bohm took a 94.1 mph sinker into right-center field, putting the Phillies on the board.
Joe Ross pitched 1.2 innings of shutout baseball for the Phillies. Jose Ruiz then came in to pitch the top of the sixth inning. Ruiz found trouble, allowing five additional runs on the inning against the Brewers. His troubles were highlighted by a three-run home run for Chourio scoring Ortiz and Brice Turang.
Before the game began, the Phillies owned a +35 run differential on the season. After 5 1/2 innings on Saturday, that differential was cut to +19.
Now pitching… Weston Wilson
Leading off the bottom of the sixth, Stott slung a single into left field. Following a line-out to left field from Turner, Schwarber hit a double down the right field line, scoring Stott and giving the Phillies their second run of the day.
After Tanner Banks pitched a scoreless seventh inning, the Phillies went to position player Weston Wilson to pitch the top of the eighth. Wilson made one appearance from the mound in 2024 and faired well the eighth. Wilson pitched the eighth and ninth innings, allowing two hits but leaving the runners stranded on base. Wilson’s fasted pitch on the day clocked in at 61.8 mph to Andrew Monasterio in the top of the eighth.
Call it a comeback?
The Phillies tried to mount a last-ditch comeback in the bottom of the ninth, ultimately coming up short. Schwarber lined a double into right field before advancing to third on a single from Bohm. Johan Rojas, who entered earlier in the game for Nick Castellanos, then slid his second triple of the year down the right field line, scoring Schwarber and Bohm. Max Kepler then legged out a single to first base, beating pitcher Tyler Alexander to the bag. Rojas scored on the play as the Phillies scored their third run on the inning without recording an out.
After a lineout by Rafael Marchán, Brandon Marsh kept the scoring going, hitting a two-run home run to Monty’s Angle in left-center field. That would be the last bit of scoring the Phillies could manage however as the Brewers closed out a 17-7 final score.
Up next for the Phillies
The Phillies will look to avoid getting swept for the second time this season on Sunday. Ranger Suárez will face off against Jose Quintana in a battle of the southpaws beginning at 1:35 p.m.
Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
