Phillies’ Jesus Luzardo places good mark on line vs. Brewers

Jesus Luzardo has been every thing the Philadelphia Phillies might have requested for — and extra.

The left-hander places his unblemished report on the road Saturday when the Phillies proceed their weekend sequence in opposition to the visiting Milwaukee Brewers.

After coming over in an offseason commerce with the Miami Marlins, Luzardo (5-0, 2.15 ERA) has helped solidify the most effective rotations within the majors. He has but to permit greater than three runs in a begin and has labored a minimal of 5 innings in each outing.

Most not too long ago, the 27-year-old allowed three runs in seven innings in a 5-4 loss to the Athletics on Sunday. He additionally struck out 10 hitters for the second straight look.

“I feel good now,” he mentioned. “I know we’re getting into June, so it’s a long season, but I feel great right now.”

Luzardo, who’s 1-1 with a 4.00 ERA in three profession begins in opposition to Milwaukee, might want to preserve a detailed eye on Christian Yelich. The previous Nationwide League MVP has 5 house runs and 12 RBIs up to now seven video games.

Within the scorching stretch, Yelich has a pair of multi-homer video games, together with one within the sequence opener on Friday. He blasted a three-run homer and a solo shot within the 6-2 victory, ending with three hits as Milwaukee gained its fifth straight recreation.

Yelich got here in hitting simply .147 with 27 strikeouts and no homers in 68 at-bats in opposition to southpaws earlier than going deep in opposition to lefty reliever Tanner Banks on Friday.

“I’ve faced a lot of lefties in my career, so I know that it’s going to be all right,” Yelich mentioned. “I got off to a little bit of a tough start this year, but you just kind of stay with it, try to find where you want to be and keep building on it. Trust that the results will come if you have a good process.

“I do know I have not been nice on lefties thus far this 12 months, however I’ve hit lefties properly up to now, so I do know that it is not not possible.”

Philadelphia managed only four hits in the contest as the hosts lost their second straight game following a stretch of 11 wins in 12 contests. Nick Castellanos homered while Kyle Schwarber doubled twice in a losing effort.

“We’ve to get again to utilizing the whole discipline and attempt to get the ball within the air,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said.

On Saturday, the Phillies will have to contend with Brewers rookie Chad Patrick (2-4, 2.97 ERA), who will be making his 12th career start and 13th overall appearance. The rookie will be facing Philadelphia for the first time.

Patrick has not pitched deep into games this season, logging more than six innings only once. However, that is largely by design as the Brewers typically don’t want him going through the opposing lineup a third time.

That said, the 26-year-old right-hander has consistently kept the team in games he has started. He blanked the Boston Red Sox over 4 2/3 innings on Monday, allowing just three hits and two walks while striking out six in the Brewers’ 3-2 victory.

“Excellent. Key,” Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy said in summarizing Patrick’s latest solid performance.

–Discipline Degree Media