Wheeler stymies Miami's bats, Phils take Game 1

The iPhone wasn’t invented the last time the Marlins appeared in a traditional postseason game. Eury Perez was six months old. The Houston Astros were in the National League Central. Bryce Harper was nine years old. Twitter did not exist. Most importantly, Miami’s Game 1 starter on Tuesday night was in attendance as a six-year-old at the 2003 World Series between the Florida Marlins and New York Yankees. Safe to say, this was a dream come true for him. “It’s just indescribable for me and my family. I grew up in South Florida, so being a Marlins fan my whole life and then getting this opportunity is something I can’t put into words, and it really hasn’t hit me yet,” said 26-year-old Luzardo on Monday, the day before his start.

It wasn’t a storybook start for Jesus Luzardo, though, as he was tagged with the loss and Miami fell to the Phillies 4-1. Luzardo was simply out-pitched by Zack Wheeler.

Luzardo and the Marlins immediately felt the pressure on Tuesday night, as Philadelphia led off their half of the first inning with a single and double by Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner, respectively. Despite the crowd getting ready to erupt, Luzardo was able to settle down and miraculously escape the inning unscathed. He did, however, bring his pitch count up to 24.

After a clean second, the potent Phillies lineup got a run on the board via a two-out RBI double by Alec Bohm. Luzardo fell behind 2-0 and left a changeup over the middle of the plate, which Bohm hooked down the left field line. Number nine hitter Johan Rojas scored from second to make it 1-0 Philadelphia.

The following inning, things unraveled for Luzardo. He allowed four consecutive hits to begin the frame, which resulted in two more Phillies runs. It could have been three more, but on the Bryson Stott RBI single, centerfielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. threw out Nick Castellanos at home, who was the trail runner. "They have a good lineup full of veteran hitters and they've been in the postseason, so they know how to grind guys out. They weren't as aggressive as they usually are; not much chasing, just making me come in the zone and grinded me out," Luzardo said.

That would be the end for Luzardo, as his final line was: 4 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 5 SO. He threw 90 pitches, 54 of them for strikes. Philadelphia would add an extra run in the bottom of the eighth when Nick Castellanos drilled an RBI double that scored Bryce Harper from first.

Philadelphia ace Zack Wheeler got the start in Game 1, and he was spectacular. He retired 18 of the first 20 men he faced and only reached a three-ball count three times. "He was excellent tonight. The sinker/sweeper combination gave us trouble," said manager Skip Schumaker postgame.

His final line: 6⅔, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 8 SO. He threw 100 pitches, 67 of them for strikes. Miami's lone run came in the top of the seventh inning from a two-out RBI single by Bryan De La Cruz.

What's next

Game 2 will be on Wednesday night at Citizens Bank Park in a win-or-go-home situation. "I feel like the entire month of September was win-or-go-home for us. Nothing different tomorrow night and we're still confident," said third baseman Jake Burger.

Schumaker added: "They know what's at stake. They know what tomorrow means and we're going to do the same thing we've always done which is go in with a game plan and try to win."

For Miami, Braxton Garrett will try and keep the Marlins season alive as he will oppose Aaron Nola. Game is at 8:08 Eastern time on ESPN.