In a game that seemed straight out of a fever dream, Jesús Luzardo and the Philadelphia Phillies endured a rough Saturday afternoon, falling to the Milwaukee Brewers 17-7. The Phillies found themselves on the wrong end of a relentless Brewers onslaught that set new season highs against them for both runs and hits, overshadowing their previous toughest outing against the St.
Louis Cardinals earlier this month. Luzardo's first loss of the 2025 season comes as the Phillies' May high-flying streak hits some turbulence.
Pre-game Lineup Mind Games
Before a single pitch was thrown, the chess match between Phillies’ manager Rob Thomson and Brewers’ manager Pat Murphy was already in full swing. With the Brewers initially set to start right-hander Chad Patrick, Thomson prepped his team for a typical righty lineup, slating Bryson Stott to lead off.
In a last-minute twist, Thomson discovered the Brewers had pivoted to using lefty Rob Zastryzny as an opener. The lineup changed, with Trea Turner stepping up to lead off.
But wait — the Brewers pivoted once more, circling back to Patrick. This prompted another lineup reshuffle, placing Stott back in the lead-off position.
Hoskins' Homage at the Bank
The Brewers had claimed game one with agility and power, notching up five stolen bases in a night. It was a preview for game two, where Jackson Chourio, with the ink barely dry on his fingerprints at second base after a steal, set the stage for the day's drama. Then came a walk from William Contreras and a single by Christian Yelich, driving in Chourio for the first run.
Enter Rhys Hoskins. Coming off a rough game, Hoskins found redemption, clobbering a Luzardo fastball 408 feet into the stands at left-center. Instantaneously, the Brewers stood four runs ahead, Hoskins' bat flipping yesterday's script entirely.
The Fourth-Inning Frenzy
The fourth inning erupted with Sal Frelick sending a pitch to the depths of right-center. Error-free until now, Luzardo's throw soared past Alec Bohm, leading to chaos on the bases. Caleb Durbin's attempted theft of second spiraled further when umpire Dan Iassogna called a balk on Luzardo, a decision leaving both player and manager Thomson bewildered.
An animated Thomson stepped up for his pitcher, and the ensuing argument culminated in his ejection. By inning's end, the Brewers had racked up eight runs, thanks in part to Hoskins' second smash of the game, and Luzardo's day ended harshly, posting career-worst figures with 12 runs, 12 hits, and three walks.
A Rainy Attempt at Momentum
With rain trying to dampen the action, Alec Bohm brought life to Philadelphia, smashing a sinker for a Phillies run. Joe Ross managed a steady relief outing, but Jose Ruiz faltered, permitting five more Milwaukee runs, highlighted by Chourio's three-run blast.
By the halfway mark, the Phillies' run differential had plunged from a healthy +35 to a shaky +19.
Relief Knuckleballs and Late Sparks
Stott and Schwarber combined for a bright moment in the sixth, with a timely single and double cutting into the deficit. Enter position player Weston Wilson, pitching for old time’s sake. Wilson's game-hopping versatility kept Brewers' further advances at bay, clocking his fastest pitch at a not-so-speedy, yet effective, 61.8 mph.
The ninth inning bore the unmistakable scent of a comeback brewing. Schwarber and Bohm laid the groundwork with hits, helping Johan Rojas notch a key triple.
Kepler then legged an infield single, granting another glory moment for Rojas. Brandon Marsh sent fans into brief ecstasy with a two-run homer, but the rally ran out of steam, leaving the Phillies staring at a 17-7 defeat.
Looking Ahead
The Phillies will be hoping for some Southpaw magic as Ranger Suárez squares off against Jose Quintana for the series finale. It'll be a battle to avoid the sweep, starting at 1:35 p.m. at home.
