Phillies' Jesus Luzardo puts perfect mark on line vs. Brewers

Jesus Luzardo has been everything the Philadelphia Phillies could have asked for -- and more.

The left-hander puts his unblemished record on the line Saturday when the Phillies continue their weekend series against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers.

After coming over in an offseason trade with the Miami Marlins, Luzardo (5-0, 2.15 ERA) has helped solidify one of the best rotations in the majors. He has yet to allow more than three runs in a start and has worked a minimum of five innings in every outing.

Most recently, the 27-year-old allowed three runs in seven innings in a 5-4 loss to the Athletics on Sunday. He also struck out 10 hitters for the second straight appearance.

"I feel good now," he said. "I know we're getting into June, so it's a long season, but I feel great right now."

Luzardo, who is 1-1 with a 4.00 ERA in three career starts against Milwaukee, will need to keep a close eye on Christian Yelich. The former National League MVP has five home runs and 12 RBIs in the past seven games.

In the sizzling stretch, Yelich has a pair of multi-homer games, including one in the series opener on Friday. He blasted a three-run homer and a solo shot in the 6-2 victory, finishing with three hits as Milwaukee won its fifth straight game.

Yelich came in hitting just .147 with 27 strikeouts and no homers in 68 at-bats against southpaws before going deep against lefty reliever Tanner Banks on Friday.

"I've faced a lot of lefties in my career, so I know that it's going to be all right," Yelich said. "I got off to a little bit of a tough start this year, but you just kind of stay with it, try to find where you want to be and keep building on it. Trust that the results will come if you have a good process.

"I know I haven't been great on lefties so far this year, but I've hit lefties well in the past, so I know that it's not impossible."

Philadelphia managed only four hits in the contest as the hosts lost their second straight game following a stretch of 11 wins in 12 contests. Nick Castellanos homered while Kyle Schwarber doubled twice in a losing effort.

"We have to get back to using the entire field and try to get the ball in the air," Phillies manager Rob Thomson said.

On Saturday, the Phillies will have to contend with Brewers rookie Chad Patrick (2-4, 2.97 ERA), who will be making his 12th career start and 13th overall appearance. The rookie will be facing Philadelphia for the first time.

Patrick has not pitched deep into games this season, logging more than six innings only once. However, that is largely by design as the Brewers typically don't want him going through the opposing lineup a third time.

That said, the 26-year-old right-hander has consistently kept the team in games he has started. He blanked the Boston Red Sox over 4 2/3 innings on Monday, allowing just three hits and two walks while striking out six in the Brewers' 3-2 victory.

"Very good. Key," Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy said in summarizing Patrick's latest solid performance.