PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jesús Luzardo struck out 12 and tossed two-hit ball in his first career shutout in 150 starts and Kyle Schwarber hit a solo homer in the eighth inning to lead the Philadelphia Phillies to a 1-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Monday.
The Phillies split a four-game series with the NL East-leading Braves and cut the division lead to four games.
Click to Gallery
Atlanta Braves pitcher Grant Holmes throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jesús Luzardo throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)
Philadelphia Phillies' Kyle Schwarber, right, watches his solo home run off Atlanta Braves pitcher Dylan Dodd during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jesús Luzardo is doused by teammates in the dugout after a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)
The NL pitcher of the month for August, Luzardo (14-5) didn't walk a batter until the ninth inning and retired the final two batters to complete the 109-pitch gem in 1 hour, 51 minutes. He threw 78 strikes.
Luzardo had another sensational outing that continues to make the Phillies look smart for not allowing the lefty to test free agency at the end of the season. He signed a $135 million, five-year contract in March and has gone out and pitched every bit like a Game 1 playoff starter.
Schwarber got him the win when he hit his MLB-leading 43rd homer into the second deck against reliever Didier Fuentes (5-2).
Atlanta starter Grant Holmes struck out six and tossed three-hit ball over six innings. He struck out the side in the third and threw six shutout innings for the sixth time this season.
The Phillies loaded the bases with two outs against Holmes in the first only to waste the scoring opportunity when Bryson Stott lined out to center to end the inning. Holmes also retired Luiz Arrez to end the seventh and leave a runner stranded on third.
Philadelphia fans reveled in booing Braves slugger and Phillies foil Ronald Acuña Jr. in each of his four plate appearances. Acuña hit a tying three-run homer in Sunday's 5-4 win and gave himself a curtain call to the irritation of Phillies fans.
He walked in the ninth but was left on base when Ozzie Albies flew out to end the game.
The Braves send RHP AJ Smith-Shawver (0-1, 7.13 ERA) to the mound Tuesday against Tampa Bay in the start of a six-game homestand. The homestand ends with three games against the Phillies.
The Phillies start RHP Andrew Painter (3-8, 5.55 ERA) Tuesday in the first game of a three-game set against Houston.
See AP’s full MLB coverage here
Atlanta Braves pitcher Grant Holmes throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jesús Luzardo throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)
Philadelphia Phillies' Kyle Schwarber, right, watches his solo home run off Atlanta Braves pitcher Dylan Dodd during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jesús Luzardo is doused by teammates in the dugout after a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)
BERLIN (AP) — Host Germany avoided embarrassment at the women’s FIBA World Cup on Monday while Spain advanced to the quarterfinals and France set a record for 3-pointers.
Germany faced the prospect of elimination in its final group game against Mali but the host was never in danger in front of a sell-out crowd at the Berlin Arena with Frieda Bühner (21 points) and Luisa Geiselsöder (17) contributing to a comfortable 83-58 win.
France scored an unprecedented 22 triples in a comprehensive 111-56 victory over already-eliminated Nigeria (0-3).
Migna Toure’s 3-point shot with 5:45 left was her team’s 21st, breaking the three-day-old record of 20 set by Japan on Friday for 3-pointers in a single contest in World Cup history. Dominique Malonga notched the 22nd.
Gabby Williams led France (3-0) with 25 points and 6 rebounds. The Olympic finalists were already assured of their place in the quarterfinals.
Also in Group B, Hungary (2-1) defeated South Korea (1-2) 82-73 to finish second in the group.
Iyana Martin led Spain to a 79-59 win over Japan with 20 points and four rebounds, sending Spain (2-1) straight through to the quarterfinals as Group A winner because of its head-to-head record against Germany (2-1).
Alima Dembélé’s two free throws at the start gave Mali (1-2) its only lead against Germany as the host made sure of progress from a group that had been wide open with all teams 1-1 before their final games.
After the buzzer the German players went over to a corner and danced with the crowd. They then did a lap around the court and high-fived fans as they went off.
“There's no celebration,” Germany coach Olaf Lange said. "The turnaround to tomorrow is too fast. The players need to recover now. Things get going again first thing tomorrow morning.”
Germany faces South Korea on Tuesday to decide which progresses to the quarterfinals.
Japan finished third in the group while Mali was eliminated despite its shock win over Spain on Saturday. Japan next plays Hungary on Tuesday.
Emma Meesseman led Belgium to the quarterfinals with 22 points and 10 rebounds as it topped Australia 80-68 for first place in Group C.
The European champion was now off until Thursday.
Australia faces a qualifying playoff on Wednesday against the loser of the Italy-China matchup later Monday.
Belgium had a five-point lead heading into the fourth quarter and bolted in an 11-2 run. The Opals couldn’t couldn't recover. Belgium’s Julie Allemand finished with seven assists to give her an all-time record 111 in World Cup play.
Puerto Rico finished strong to eliminate Turkey 75-71 in their final group game earlier.
Arella Guirantes led Puerto Rico with 21 points.
Puerto Rico was trailing by seven points going into the final quarter but Imani McGee-Stafford scored and Pamela Rosado followed with two 3-pointers to take a 59-58 lead.
Turkey power forward Elif Bayram went off early in the final quarter with an apparent left leg injury.
Turkey fans outnumbered their counterparts at Berlin’s Max-Schmeling-Halle and they tried to put off Guirantes but couldn’t stop her from securing the win with two free throws.
Puerto Rico next plays the winner of Italy-China on Wednesday.
The four group winners progress directly to Thursday’s quarterfinals, while the teams that finish second and third face playoffs Tuesday or Wednesday to determine which advances also. The bottom teams are eliminated.
Italy (1-1), after coming close to upsetting the United States on Sunday night, faces China (1-1) to decide second place in Group D. The U.S. (2-0) has already advanced to the quarterfinals before its final group game against the Czech Republic, which was eliminated after two losses.
See AP’s full WNBA coverage here
Germany's Alexis Peterson reacts during the Women's Basketball World Cup match between the Germany and Mali in Berlin, Monday, Sept. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
German players celebrate after the Women's Basketball World Cup match between the Germany and Mali in Berlin, Monday, Sept. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Mali's Aminata Sangar and Germany's Lina Sontag fight for the ball during the Women's Basketball World Cup match between the Germany and Mali in Berlin, Monday, Sept. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Mali's Maimouna Haidara shoots over Germany's Leonie Fiebich during the Women's Basketball World Cup match between the Germany and Mali in Berlin, Monday, Sept. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Mali's Sika Kone shoots over Germany's Marie Guelich during the Women's Basketball World Cup match between the Germany and Mali in Berlin, Monday, Sept. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Mali's Aminata Sangar and Germany's Lina Sontag fight for the ball during the Women's Basketball World Cup match between the Germany and Mali in Berlin, Monday, Sept. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Germany's Frieda Buhner guards Mali's Mama Cisse during the Women's Basketball World Cup match between the Germany and Mali in Berlin, Monday, Sept. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
German players react during the Women's Basketball World Cup match between the Germany and Mali in Berlin, Monday, Sept. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Korea's Jin An blocks France's Pauline Astier during the Women's Basketball World Cup match between France and Korea in Berlin, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Korea's Kang Yoo-lim guards France's Gabby Williams during the Women's Basketball World Cup match between France and Korea in Berlin, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
France's Marine Johannes shoots during the Women's Basketball World Cup match between France and Korea in Berlin, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Puerto Rico's Zaida Gonzalez fouls Belgium's Emma Meesseman fouls [b during the Women's Basketball World Cup match between Puerto Rico and Belgium in Berlin, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Puerto Rico's Denise Solís guards Belgium's Emma Meesseman during the Women's Basketball World Cup match between Puerto Rico and Belgium in Berlin, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
