The Los Angeles Dodgers’ impressive season-opening winning streak has come to an end, thanks to a stellar performance by Jesús Luzardo of the Philadelphia Phillies.
On Friday, Luzardo dominated one of the most feared lineups in MLB, leading the Phillies to a 3-2 victory over the Dodgers and halting their eight-game winning streak. The Dodgers now stand at 8-1, while the Phillies continue to impress with a record of 6-1.
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This streak had set a new record as the longest undefeated run by a defending champion in MLB history, surpassing the 1933 New York Yankees.
The Phillies acquired Luzardo in a trade with the Miami Marlins during the offseason, bolstering their already strong rotation. Luzardo showcased his talent in his Phillies debut by striking out 11 batters and allowing only two earned runs in five innings against the Washington Nationals before delivering a superb performance against the Dodgers.
With a blazing fastball reaching 98.6 mph and a variety of pitches at his disposal, Luzardo kept the Dodgers off balance throughout the game. He held the Dodgers hitless for 18 consecutive batters after the second inning, only facing significant pressure in the seventh inning when they managed to get two runners on base with two outs.
When facing Kiké Hernández, known for his success against left-handed pitchers, Luzardo secured his eighth strikeout to prevent Los Angeles from scoring. His emotional reaction as he left the mound, cheered on by his parents in the stands at Citizens Bank Park, encapsulated the intensity of the game.
After reaching 95 pitches, Luzardo was replaced by Matt Strahm and Jordan Romano, who helped secure the win despite a late two-run homer from Tommy Edman in the ninth inning.
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Philadelphia capitalized on a throwing error by Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto to score early in the game. While Yamamoto had a solid performance with five strikeouts and three hits allowed, the Phillies had more success against Dodgers reliever Kirby Yates.
While the Dodgers’ loss may come as a surprise to some, it was inevitable that their undefeated streak would eventually be broken. The real test lies in how many teams can replicate the Phillies’ success against the Dodgers’ stacked lineup. Despite missing World Series MVP Freddie Freeman, the Dodgers remain a formidable force in the league.
The defeat coincided with the San Diego Padres, the other undefeated team entering Friday, also experiencing their first loss against the Chicago Cubs.