Final: Phillies 11, Nationals 6
There were no shadows to bother hitters this afternoon, but the Nationals still struggled against Jesús Luzardo, who looked like his best self, striking out 11 hitters in his five innings of work.
Luzardo, coming off an injury-riddled and ineffective 2024, sat 96-98 mph with his fastballs, maxing out at 98.9. He mixed in his new sweeper and slider with plenty of success; 10 of his 11 strikeouts came on the sweeper or slider. Altogether, Luzardo allowed two runs on five hits. Both runs came on a second-inning home run by Keibert Ruiz.
The left-hander fired 95 pitches in his five innings. He generated 18 whiffs on 43 swings. Luzardo’s strikeout total is the second-most for a Phillies pitcher in their debut with the team, tying Jim Bunning and trailing only Garrett Stephenson.
Strong starting pitching wasn’t the only thing that carried the Phillies to a victory on Saturday. The club also jumped all over the Nationals bullpen, a theme that was also prevalent on Opening Day.
On Thursday, Rob Thomson’s club scored all seven of its runs against Washington’s ‘pen. On Saturday, they scored nine runs on seven hits against Nats relievers with two three-run home runs.
After a pair of runs scored on a walk and a wild pitch, Kyle Schwarber fisted his second home run of the season off right-hander Lucas Sims in the top of the sixth inning, extending his club’s lead to 7-2.
An inning later, Brandon Marsh took Orlando Ribalta deep into the Nationals bullpen in right field. The Phillies took a commanding 10-3 lead on Marsh’s homer.
Schwarber and Marsh joined Bryson Stott in the scorebook with a home run. Stott hit a game-tying, two-run shot in the fourth.
Stott and Marsh, batting seventh and eighth, each had good days at the dish. Stott went 2-for-3 with a pair of walks, a double and his home run. Marsh finished the day 3-for-5.
The Phillies will look to open 2025 with a sweep of the Nationals on Sunday as they send Aaron Nola to the mound.
