Delaware County Daily Times: https://tinyurl.com/5smrj6vs
Originally published June 17, 2026
PHILADELPHIA — As Phillies bats bopped baseballs out of the ballpark like it was BP — drilling three dingers into the dusk and posting seven runs in the first two innings — left-hander Jesús Luzardo was as steady as can be.
Luzardo entered with a dismal home record of 1-4 and a 7.34 ERA. He previously joked it was the polarizing City Connect unis that were the cause of all his troubles at Citizens Bank Park, but the Phillies were in their traditional fire-engine red pinstripes Tuesday during an 8-2 romp over the Miami Marlins. And Luzardo was magnificent.
He scattered five hits over seven innings, striking out nine while walking a pair. He didn’t surrender a hit through the first four frames
The two-run homer he gave up to Esteury Ruiz came in the seventh, his final inning of work. Luzardo was annoyed with himself, but the game was comfortably in hand.
“After the first (inning), I feel like I really found a groove getting back in the zone,” said Luzardo, who issued a walk to start the game. “Kind of lost it at the beginning and then made some adjustments and I felt way better.”
Of the 106 pitches Luzardo threw, 73 were strikes. He worked in and out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth and otherwise cruised.
“Jesús was good, 21 of 28 first-pitch strikes,” manager Don Mattingly said. “We’re able to score early, and him throwing zeroes and we score again.”
Marlins right-handed starter Tyler Phillips (1-2) came in boasting a 1.86 ERA. It ballooned to 3.10 by the time he departed. Brandon Marsh, Alec Bohm and Kyle Schwarber all went deep. Bryson Stott tripled.
“I think when our offense is rolling like that, it gives the pitchers a little more freedom to attack the zone,” Luzardo (6-4, 4.20 ERA, 1.31 WHIP) said.
“It feels great (to perform well at home),” said Luzardo, who was in rhythm and dealing his changeup. “Obviously, I know I can do it. I just really think it’s a coincidence. It’s unfortunate — no one wants to pitch badly, especially at home — but the routine stays the same and today I felt really good. So hopefully (I’ll) keep building on that.”
Brandon Marsh hit leadoff and finished 1-for-3 with an opposite-field, two-run homer, a walk, a stolen base and two runs scored. He has been one of the leading hitters in baseball since May of last year (.314/.375/.489) and he’s a leading outfield vote-getter to start the All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park on July 14.
“I haven’t really looked at it, to be honest with you,” Marsh said of the voting. “I’m really just trying to enjoy now and just take it day-by-day and see where it all falls out at the end.”
The Phillies placed right-handed reliever Brad Keller on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to June 14, with right forearm tendinitis. They recalled righty Max Lazar from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to fill his spot on the big-league roster.
Keller, 30, has made 31 appearances for the Phillies this season and is 2-1 with a 4.15 ERA, 31 strikeouts and 12 walks. He has converted three of his four save opportunities.
“We feel good about him, and we’re looking more at the long game with him and making sure he’s going to be available as we go forward,” Mattingly said. “We always do (imaging). Just probably inflammation and stuff like that. It is something we know has been nagging. He’s been a little hesitant talking to us about it, but we don’t need any heroes right now.”
Keller has held opposing hitters to an average exit velocity of 85.9 mph and a 32.6% hard-hit rate, which rank in the 94th and 83rd percentile, respectively, among major league pitchers this year.
Lazar, 27, has pitched in 15 games across three levels of the Phillies system this season, including 11 in rehab assignments. He has a combined 3.93 ERA with 16 strikeouts and six walks. The 6-foot-2 right-hander was reinstated from the 60-day injured list on May 30.
Lazar made 36 relief appearances for the Phillies last season and was 1-1 with a 4.79 ERA and one save.
NOTES: The Phillies improved to 31-14 under Mattingly, including winning 11 of 15 series. … Schwarber played first base while Bryce Harper was DH. … Trea Turner had the night off after being hit by a pitch in his right wrist the previous game. X-rays were negative. … The Phillies’ City Connect uniforms (dark blue, light blue, black, yellow trim, street-gang-style font reading “Philly”) will be replaced with an entirely new design in 2027.
Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X and Threads at @the_defranc.