Jun 22, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo (44) enters the field before the game against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Cristopher Sánchez and Jesús Luzardo both needed bounce-back starts after subpar performances against the Mets last week.
Sánchez got his against the Atlanta Braves Saturday night. Luzardo got his against the Braves Sunday night.
Unfortunately for the Phillies, Luzardo's effort wasn't quite enough to clinch the four-game series sweep.
Coming off a poor outing against the Mets where he allowed four runs in four innings, Luzardo pitched 6 2/3 innings of two-hit ball Sunday night, striking out seven and walking one without allowing a run. He even flashed the leather against Ronald Acuña Jr.:
12 up, 12 down for Jesús Luzardo, AND he's showing up on defense!
(via @aokstott)pic.twitter.com/FVptVoT3jx
The Phillies' bats were mostly silent once again against Braves right-handed pitcher Hurston Waldrep. The rookie phenom held Phillies hitters to just four hits and one run through 5 2/3 innings. Brandon Marsh provided that lone run in the bottom of the fourth:
Marsh puts the Phils on the board🐶🐶🐶pic.twitter.com/j3ovoSubjr
The Phillies held onto their one-run lead until the top of the eighth. Orion Kerkering continued his worrying pattern of struggling with his command. He gave up a single and then walked the next two batters, loading the bases without registering a single out.
Tanner Banks came into the game in an almost impossible spot. Although he allowed one run to score, he stopped the bleeding and got out of the inning without any more damage done.
Kerkering has now earned five runs over his last six appearances. In the same span, he has also walked five batters. That's a concerning trend heading into September.
José Alvarado came into a tie game in the top of the ninth and gave up a two-run home run to Braves catcher Drake Baldwin. It was Alvarado's first home run allowed since returning from his 80-game suspension on Aug. 19:
Drake Baldwin puts the @Braves ahead in the 9th! 💪 pic.twitter.com/JDkzkh5Pq4
Nick Castellanos, Harrison Bader and Bryson Stott went down quietly in the bottom of the ninth, and the game ended in a 3-1 Braves win.
Despite Sunday's loss, and despite being swept by the New York Mets last week, the Phillies still hold a six-game lead over the Mets for first place in the NL East.
The Fightins will attempt to put the loss behind them against the Milwaukee Brewers, who currently boast the best record in MLB. The Brewers and Phillies will kick off a three-game series Monday afternoon in Milwaukee.
