Jesus Luzardo, Edmundo Sosa help power Phillies to series win over Mets

Jesus Luzardo held the New York Mets scoreless into the seventh inning and Edmundo Sosa hit a three-run homer as the host Philadelphia Phillies posted a 7-1 victory on Sunday night.

Luzardo (7-3) allowed only three hits in 6 2/3 innings for Philadelphia, which won two of three against New York this weekend to move one game ahead of the Mets for first place in the National League East. The lefty Luzardo struck out seven and walked one as the Phillies improved to 9-2 in their last 11 games.

The Phillies had one big inning against David Peterson (5-3), who was charged with five runs and six hits in four frames. Francisco Lindor hit a solo home run for the Mets, who have lost eight of their last nine games.

Both starters put up zeroes through the first three innings before Kyle Schwarber opened the fourth with a long home run to center field. However, Philadelphia wasn’t finished in that inning.

Nick Castellanos doubled with one out and J.T. Realmuto drew a walk before rookie Otto Kemp delivered an RBI single. Two pitches later, Sosa drilled a long opposite-field home run to right-center field to make it 5-0.

Luzardo retired New York in order in the fifth and sixth innings before allowing a one-out single to Brandon Nimmo in the seventh. With two outs, Jordan Romano came on and retired Tyrone Taylor on a fielder’s choice to keep the visitors scoreless.

Singles by Trea Turner and Schwarber set the stage for the hosts to add two runs in the seventh against Tyler Zuber. Alec Bohm’s sacrifice fly made it 6-0 before Castellanos’ double pushed the lead to 7-0.

Lindor’s homer off Max Lazar in the eighth got the Mets on the board.

New York finished with just four hits – two apiece by Lindor and Nimmo. Sosa had three hits for Philadelphia, while Turner, Schwarber and Castellanos chipped in with two apiece.