Luzardo Tosses First Career Shutout; Phillies 1-0

Jesus Luzardo finally finished what he started. The Phillies left-hander threw his first career complete-game shutout in 150 starts, striking out 12 in a 1-0 win over the Atlanta Braves on Monday at Citizens Bank Park, per the Associated Press and ESPN.

Kyle Schwarber's MLB-leading 43rd homer in the eighth was the only run. Luzardo (14-5) needed just 109 pitches and 1 hour, 51 minutes, the fastest nine-inning game in baseball this season.

Twelve Ks, two hits, one walk

Luzardo had never pitched into the ninth in his first 149 starts. Manager Don Mattingly sent him back out anyway after Schwarber mashed Didier Fuentes into the second deck. Luzardo walked Ronald Acuna Jr. in the ninth, then punched out Drake Baldwin and got Ozzie Albies to fly out on the first pitch.

He threw 78 strikes, allowed two hits, and did not walk anyone until that ninth. The franchise had not finished a nine-inning game that fast since July 4, 1989, against Cincinnati. August's NL pitcher of the month just gave the bullpen a full day off after Sunday's late collapse.

"Everyone dreams about being a guy your team relies on," Luzardo said, per AP. "Just going out there when, I don't want to call it a must-win, but a big win, it feels good."

September stakes, NL East

The win split the four-game series and cut Atlanta's NL East lead to four games with three more meetings left this weekend in Atlanta. Since May 14, Luzardo owns a 1.93 ERA over 135 innings with 164 strikeouts and 39 walks. Philadelphia is 18-3 in those starts.

Schwarber's blast was his 11th career go-ahead homer in the eighth or later and only the Phillies' fourth hit of the day. Grant Holmes had kept them quiet for six. Schwarber has been living in that late-inning lane all month, including an earlier Phillies series punch already on the board.

Monday belonged to Luzardo looking at the sky after the last out and gifting the game ball to his parents. October is why Philadelphia keeps handing him the ball. He just showed what that looks like with the bullpen watching from the rail.