KANSAS CITY, Mo. _ Just when you think that Zach Eflin can't possibly pitch any better, the Phillies right-hander morphs into Greg Maddux before your very eyes.
Six nights after stymieing the Nationals for seven innings, 13 nights after tossing a complete game against the Marlins, Eflin put forth his most eye-popping performance yet. He shut out the Royals on only 110 pitches in a 7-0 victory at Kauffman Stadium on Saturday night, squaring the three-game series at one game apiece.
Entering the ninth inning at 89 pitches, Eflin had a chance to complete the game in less than 100, a feat that is commonly referred to as a "Maddux" in homage to the pitcher who did it 13 times since pitch-count data became available in 1988. It has happened only twice so far this season. Dodgers lefty Hyun-Jin Ryu blanked the Braves on 93 pitches on May 7, while Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks shut out the Cardinals on 81 pitches on May 3.
But Royals leadoff man Whit Merrifield worked a full count before grounding out to third base, bumping Eflin's pitch count to 95. Adalberto Mondesi followed by striking out on six pitches, pushing Eflin to 101 pitches. After Alex Gordon lined a two-out double, Eflin finished off the shutout by striking out Hunter Dozier.
It nevertheless marked Eflin's second career shutout. The other came on July 22, 2016 when, as a rookie, he blanked the Pirates in a 100-pitch masterpiece. That game, like this one, came in the midst of an impressive stretch in which he posted a 2.08 ERA in seven starts.
The Royals didn't stand a chance against Eflin, who mixed his fastball, slider and sinker into a brew that elicited quick outs, mostly on the ground. He threw a first-pitch strike to 19 of 31 batters and allowed the Phillies' relievers to sit on their hands for nine innings on a cool Midwestern night.
Eflin threw nine pitches in each of the first three innings. He labored through a 22-pitch fourth inning in which he hit two batters with two outs but emerged from a bases-loaded jam by getting Ryan O'Hearn to hit a comebacker to the mound.
After that, it was a breeze. Eflin threw 10 pitches in the fifth inning, four in the sixth, 11 in the seventh and 15 in the eighth.
One night after being held hitless with runners in scoring position by four Royals pitchers, the Phillies took full advantage of their opportunities.
Rhys Hoskins had the biggest of nine Phillies hits, battling back from an 0-2 count to stroke a two-run single in the third inning. The Phillies also drew seven walks and got enough traffic on the bases to score one run on a passed ball, one on a fielder's choice and another on a groundout.
The Phillies jumped on Royals starter Brad Keller for three runs in the third inning and one in the fourth, then KO'd him with two more in the sixth, enabling Eflin to pitch comfortably with a lead.
And he barely broke a sweat.
