Jesus Luzardo Survives First Inning Disaster, Then Dominates as Phillies Comeback and Sweep the Mets
Sep 11, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jesœs Luzardo (44) reacts after pitching a strike out to end the New York Mets eighth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Something that has been a difficult thing for the Phillies this season has been closing out series sweeps, particularly at home. Against the division rival that they’re looking to bury, winning a series would be great, but sweeping them would be legendary. With as difficult as it has been this season for the Phils to win at Citi Field, keeping the New York Mets out of October is paramount for the Phils’ postseason chances.
The game tonight didn’t start in the best way for the Phils, going down 4 runs in the first was a difficult hill to climb, but the Phillies fought back and scored 6 unanswered runs to exact revenge on the Mets and sweep them when it mattered most. Jhoan Duran came in to shut down the Mets and send them to Dallas with their tail between their legs, losing the game 6-4, and completing a pivotal four-game sweep of the Mets.
The Phils now have an 11-game lead in the NL East, and their magic number to clinch their second straight division title is five.
Tonight was not the best start for Jesus Luzardo; it seemed like everyone in the Mets lineup got a hit off of him in the first inning. Francisco Lindor led off with a base hit, Juan Soto singled, Mark Vientos singled, and 2 runs scored. In the blink of an eye, the Mets had a 2-run lead, and it looked like the streak of Phils starters going 6 in this series looked like it would never happen. When Starling Marte doubled, still with only one out, I half expected to see the Phils bullpen getting busy. It never did. Down 4, Luzardo hit another gear and muscled out of the jam he had created.
Once he got the last out in the first, he never looked back. Marte was the last baserunner the Mets would have all game, because Luzardo shoved after the tumultuous first inning. When he trotted onto the mound for the second, he looked like a different pitcher. He came out and dominated. The biggest issue he had was that his breaking pitches were flatter than normal, and the Mets took full advantage. When he came out, he was finishing off his pitches better, and the effect was a sharp bite on his breaking pitches, which set up the sinker and change-up. His fastball had late life on it, and he was absolutely dealing.
He kept the Phils in the game, and the offense came through for him with Otto Kemp hitting a 2-run home run in the 4th inning. In the fifth, Weston Wilson started off the inning with a single, and Bryce Harper doubled him home to bring the Phils to within one run. In the sixth, more offensive magic with Kemp driving home Nick Castellanos, who played very well tonight, tying the game at 4. Harrison Bader came up next to put the Phillies ahead 5-4.
Harper added one more RBI just for some insurance, but in reality, it was a luxury run because Luzardo was absolutely dominating the Mets hitters. After the first inning, he retired 22 straight Mets, throwing only 18 balls in that span.
What is a telling sign was that he didn’t get a single 3-ball count all game. Which is incredibly impressive, especially given his struggles in later innings with command. Tonight, he was the one in command as the game went on.
Luzardo lit up the radar gun at 99.2 mph in the 7th inning tonight.
In his post-game interview, he said he just wanted to give the offense a chance to get them back in the game, and he did just that. He went 8 innings, striking out 10 and walking nobody. His line won’t show just how much he took this game over tonight, but this was the Luzardo show.
Duran came in to shut down the Mets with three quick strikeouts, making it 25 Mets shut down in a row.
Tonight, Luzardo did something that has not been done since 1977 — he is the first Phillies pitcher since Steve Carlton to go 8 innings after giving up 4 in the first. This says so much about not just Luzardo, but also the faith Rob Thomson has in him.
I have to say that we were hoping that the Fightins would bring brooms to the yard tonight to sweep the Mets. It looks like they brought shovels to the yard instead, because the Mets’ chances of winning the National League East were just laid to rest for the season.
Steve Hamilton
Steve may have been born in California, but don’t let that fool you. After dating a local woman and clashing with her and her family over sports for decades, he has an affinity for Philly sports. Balancing love for Philly and Bay Area sports teams may seem impossible, we can all agree that the Cowboys are the true evil.
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