The offense put on a show while the wind caused problems.
The Phillies offense put up six runs in the third inning and five in the eighth while Jesús Luzardo rebounded from his last start in a 12-1 win over their hated Spring Training Sunday rivals the Baltimore Orioles. The wind wreaked havoc on this game, measuring at 25 miles per hour and causing any ball hit into the air to be an adventure. Such uncertainty led to two of the Phillies outfielders, namely Max Kepler and Brandon Marsh, leaving as a precaution after minor injuries suffered while tracking balls in the breeze.
Luzardo’s first pitch of the day was hit to the wall by Jordan Westburg and fell in for a double after Marsh tripped trying to adjust to the wind-carried ball. The lefty was then able to retire the next two hitters with strikeouts before Ryan Mountcastle launched a ball to the left field wall that Kepler prevented from being a home run by crashing into the wall and making the catch.
Kepler would then leave the game and be replaced by Oscar Mercado while Marsh left in the bottom of the third inning and was replaced by Cal Stevenson following a diving catch in the second. The Phillies later announced both were removed as a precaution.
Both Max Kepler (bruised lower back) and Brandon Marsh (bruised left knee) said they left the game for precautionary reasons. Both said they probably would have stayed in the game if it were the regular season. They don’t sound concerned.
— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) March 16, 2025
Mercado led off the third inning and reached base on a throwing error from Westburg. He then stole second while Johan Rojas singled to put two runners on with no outs. Rojas had a particularly strong showing on the day as he collected three hits in four at bats. Trea Turner then blooped in a broken bat single to plate the Phillies first run and then tie the game at 1-1. Bryson Stott then worked a walk before Christian Arroyo struck out for the first out.
Old friend Zach Eflin was then removed from the inning due to pitch count and replaced by Nathan Webb. But Edmundo Sosa slammed the first pitch he saw from the new pitcher for a bases clearing double that broke the game open and gave the Phillies a 4-1 lead. Two batters later, Kody Clemens blasted an opposite field double of his own that plated two more runs and pushed the lead to 6-1. Rafael Marchán grounded out and Mercado flew out to end the inning after the Phillies batted around.
Luzardo ultimately completed four innings and allowed one run on four hits with six strikeouts. The lone run was from a Ramon Laureano home run that came on the first pitch of the second inning. Luzardo then completed the rest of his work in the bullpen as the Phillies relievers took over. Nabil Crismatt was first up to relieve Luzardo and threw a clean inning with a strikeout as he looks to possibly make the Opening Day roster if Matt Strahm heads to the IL. Kyle Tyler also threw a clean inning before Tyler Phillips allowed a hit and had a throwing error but ultimately didn’t allow a run.
The Phillies offense exploded again in the eighth inning, this time plating five runs off of Orioles pitcher Trey Gibson. First baseman Felix Reyes had a two-run double and shortstop Bryan Rincon added a two-run double of his own. Second baseman Robert Moore singled in two more runs to total the scoring to 12 Phillies runs on 13 hits.
Michael Mercado finished off the game with two scoreless innings out of the bullpen to give the Phillies their tenth win of the spring and put Philadelphia over .500.
Tomorrow’s matchup
The Phillies will play the Blue Jays in Clearwater tomorrow in the annual St. Patrick’s Day game at 1:05 pm. The game will be broadcast as a webcast on MLB.com. Aaron Nola is scheduled to start for the Phillies against Chris Bassitt of the Blue Jays.