Don Mattingly wins debut as Phillies interim manager as Jesús Luzardo helps blank Giants 7-0

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Don Mattingly won his first game as Philadelphia's interim manager, as Jesús Luzardo threw seven innings to lead the last-place Phillies past the San Francisco Giants 7-0 on Tuesday night.

Mattingly won hours after he was promoted from bench coach to replace the fired Rob Thomson after the NL East champion Phillies lost 11 of 12 games and began the day tied for the worst record in the majors.

Dave Dombrowski, the Phillies’ president of baseball operations, flirted with the idea of replacing Thomson with former Red Sox manager Alex Cora. Cora was fired by Boston over the weekend but won a World Series with the team in 2018 when Dombrowski ran the front office.

Cora declined, citing family reasons. Dombrowski promoted Mattingly, the former New York Yankees great, who had two previous managerial stints with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Miami Marlins.

Mattingly — who officially works for his son, general manager Preston Mattingly — said ahead of the game he believed the Phillies had the talent needed to play to their potential and turn the season around.

For a night, at least, he was right.

Thomson, who led the Phillies to four straight playoff appearances, said before the game he was to be going to spend his unexpected free night watching the Phillies.

What he saw was more of what the Phillies expected out of Luzardo (2-3) this season.

He allowed two hits, struck out eight and walked none, just two starts after the lefty allowed nine runs and 12 hits against the Cubs. It was the third time in his first four starts Luzardo allowed five-plus earned runs.

Brandon Marsh hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth off Giants starter Tyler Mahle (1-4) and the Phillies tacked on four more runs in the sixth. Bryce Harper — who called Thomson perhaps the best manager he ever played for — hit an RBI double and Adolis Garcia ripped a two-RBI double to right-center in the inning.

Trea Turner had four hits.

Mahle gave up five runs in five innings.

The Giants send RHP Logan Webb (2-3, 4.86 ERA) to the mound against Phillies LHP Cristopher Sánchez (2-2, 2.94 ERA).

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Philadelphia Phillies' Brandon Marsh, right, follows through after hitting an RBI-sacrifice fly against San Francisco Giants pitcher Tyler Mahle during the fourth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 28, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia Phillies' Adolis García reacts after hitting a two-run double against San Francisco Giants pitcher Tyler Mahle during the sixth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 28, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

San Francisco Giants' Matt Gage pitches during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies Tuesday, April 28, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia Phillies' Alec Bohm hits a run-scoring double against San Francisco Giants pitcher Matt Gage during the sixth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 28, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

FILE - Philadelphia Phillies bench coach Don Mattingly (8) watches from the dugout steps during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, April 5, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

CLEVELAND (AP) — Nick Martinez pitched three-hit ball into the eighth inning, Jonathan Aranda drove in a run for the third straight game and the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Cleveland Guardians 1-0 on Tuesday night to extend their winning streak to six games.

The Rays are 13-1 against American League opponents this season, matching the 1987 Milwaukee Brewers, 1984 Detroit Tigers, 1981 Oakland Athletics and 1966 Cleveland Indians for the best start versus AL competition.

Cleveland second baseman Travis Bazzana, the top pick in the 2024 amateur draft, went 0 for 2 with two walks in his major league debut.

The Guardians have dropped four straight and five of six.

Martinez (2-1) threw only 78 pitches, 54 for strikes, and retired nine Cleveland hitters on two pitches or fewer. The right-hander struck out four and walked one. He was lifted after walking Bazzana to start the eighth.

Cleveland loaded the bases with one out on three walks — one intentional — but couldn’t score. Ian Seymour struck out Chase DeLauter, and Kevin Kelly retired José Ramírez on a flyball to deep center field.

Cole Sulser fanned two in a one-hit ninth for his 16th career save and first since 2022 with Miami. The Guardians put two runners on with two outs before Sulser struck out pinch-hitter George Valera to end it.

Taylor Walls drew a walk from Cleveland starter Tanner Bibee (0-4) in the fifth. With two outs, Walls advanced to third on Ben Williamson's base hit to right field and scored when Aranda lined a single just past Bazzana's outstretched glove for his 25th RBI this season, which is second in the AL.

Bibee allowed four hits in five innings. He struck out six and walked three.

Rays RHP Drew Rasmussen (2-0, 2.45 ERA) faces RHP Gavin Williams (4-1, 3.28) in the series finale Wednesday afternoon.

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Cleveland Guardians' Travis Bazzana watches a foul ball during an at bat in the second inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians in Cleveland, Tuesday, April 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Guardians' Tanner Bibee pitches in the first inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays in Cleveland, Tuesday, April 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Guardians catcher Bo Naylor, left, covers as Tampa Bay Rays' Chandler Simpson (14) attempts to run home but was called out in the first inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Tuesday, April 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Tampa Bay Rays' Nick Martinez (28) pitches in the first inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians in Cleveland, Tuesday, April 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)