PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Eric Lauer struck out a career-high 13 over six innings, Christian Yelich hit a sacrifice fly in the ninth and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Philadelphia Phillies 1-0 on Sunday night.
Lauer and Aaron Nola took no-decisions in a pitchers’ duel that saw the starters combine for 22 strikeouts.
The Brewers finally broke through in the ninth against Corey Knebel (0-1). Jace Peterson singled leading off the inning and moved to third on Andrew McCutchen’s one-out single. Knebel, who saved 57 games in five seasons with the Brewers, then gave up Yelich’s sac fly to left field that scored Peterson.
Devin Williams (1-0) worked the eighth and Josh Hader finished for his eighth save.
Lauer gave up five hits, walked one and threw 66 of 98 pitches for strikes but could not get his second win. He joined Teddy Higuera as the only left-handers in Brewers history to strike out 13 batters in a game.
Lauer, who had 10 strikeouts over his first two starts, brought his best stuff against the Phillies. He struck out eight through four innings — including Bryce Harper twice.
Kyle Schwarber led off the fifth with a headfirst slide into second for a double and Alec Bohm walked. Lauer then matched his previous career high for Ks when he got Johan Camargo. He gave up a single and a foul pop out that left the bases loaded for Rhys Hoskins.
Lauer hit a career-best 10 strikeouts when he got Hoskins swinging on a 95 mph four-seam fastball to end the rally.
The Phillies were booed off the field.
Lauer struck out Harper for a third time leading off the sixth. Nick Castellanos whiffed on three pitches. J.T. Realmuto doubled, but Lauer escaped the inning by — yup — catching Schwarber on a called strike three.
Schwarber erupted in disgust on another called third strike and was ejected in the ninth by plate umpire Angel Hernandez. Both teams had issues with Hernandez all game.
Nola took advantage of the calls and was just as sharp. He tossed one-hit ball and struck out nine over seven shutout innings. Nola easily had his best start of the season — he allowed four runs in six innings on opening day — and needs more outings like Sunday to help put the Phillies in the postseason for the first time since 2011. Nola made his 115th start since 2018, the most of any pitcher during that span.
VILLANOVA HONORED
Jay Wright, who retired Wednesday as Villanova’s basketball coach, threw a ceremonial first pitch, along with successor Kyle Neptune. Wright won two national championships and went to four Final Fours with the Wildcats, including this year.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Phillies SS Didi Gregorius (bruised left hand) took batting practice.
UP NEXT
The Brewers head home for one game Monday against San Francisco. LHP Sam Long (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will start for San Francisco, and the Brewers send RHP Corbin Burnes (1-0, 2.37) to the mound. The teams will play the other two games of the originally scheduled series in a Sept. 8 doubleheader.
The Phillies open a four-game series at home against Colorado. They send RHP Kyle Gibson (1-1, 3.57 ERA) to the mound against LHP Kyle Freeland (0-2, 7.71). Harper will likely stay at designated hitter as he plays with a mild strain in his right elbow.
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