CINCINNATI (Interstat) — Jesús Luzardo pitched seven dominant innings and Justin Crawford delivered a tiebreaking RBI single in the eighth, leading the Philadelphia Phillies to a 1-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday night at Great American Ball Park.

Luzardo struck out 11 and allowed only two hits over seven scoreless innings for the Phillies, who improved to 52-42 and won for the second time in three games against Cincinnati this series. The left-hander outdueled Reds starter Brady Singer, who also threw well in a losing effort.

The only run of the game came in the top of the eighth inning. With one out, Gabriel Rincones Jr. was hit by a pitch from Singer. J.T. Realmuto grounded out, moving pinch runner Derek Hill to second base. Crawford then lined a single to right field off Singer, scoring Hill and giving Philadelphia a 1-0 lead.

Singer had worked 7 1/3 innings, allowing four hits and striking out five while walking one. He took the loss, dropping to 3-9 on the season.

The Phillies bullpen made the lead stand. Jonathan Bowlan pitched a scoreless eighth inning, allowing no hits and striking out one. Jhoan Duran worked the ninth for his 23rd save, striking out two despite allowing a single to JJ Bleday and hitting Spencer Steer with a pitch.

Philadelphia managed only five hits in the game, with Brandon Marsh going 2 for 4. Bryson Stott doubled in the second inning for the Phillies’ only extra-base hit.

Cincinnati mustered just three hits total, all singles. Tyler Stephenson singled in the second inning, TJ Friedl singled in the fifth, and Bleday singled to lead off the ninth. The Reds left five runners on base and grounded into two forceouts, failing to advance a runner past second base after the fifth inning.

The game was a stark contrast from the previous night, when the Reds pounded the Phillies 11-5. Cincinnati won the series opener Tuesday 4-1 before Philadelphia evened the series with Thursday’s pitching duel.

Luzardo continued a strong stretch for the Phillies rotation. In his previous start, July 4 at Kansas City, he earned a win by allowing one run over six innings with nine strikeouts in a 6-1 victory. On June 28 at the New York Mets, he allowed one run over five innings and struck out six in a 5-4 win.

The Phillies have won five of their last eight games, including three of four against the Reds in this series.

Cincinnati fell to 42-50 with the loss. The Reds dropped their second straight game after winning seven of their previous nine.

Thursday’s game featured crisp defense on both sides. Philadelphia’s defense turned a double play in the seventh inning when second baseman Edwin Arroyo and shortstop Elly De La Cruz combined to erase Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper.

The game was played in 2 hours, 12 minutes in front of an announced crowd of 19,777.

Philadelphia managed limited offensive threats early. In the second inning, Stott doubled but was left stranded. In the seventh, Schwarber singled and Marsh singled, but the Phillies could not push a run across.

Luzardo worked around a jam in the fifth. With one out, Noelvi Marte walked and advanced to second on a groundout by Arroyo. Friedl singled to put runners at the corners, but Luzardo induced a forceout from De La Cruz to end the inning.

Cincinnati’s best chance came in the ninth. After Bleday singled and Steer was hit by a pitch, Duran struck out Eugenio Suárez and Stephenson before Noelvi Marte grounded out to third baseman Alec Bohm.

The Reds had another scoring opportunity in the seventh when Suárez walked and Stephenson reached on a forceout, but Luzardo struck out Marte and got Arroyo to ground into a forceout.

Philadelphia’s offense stalled despite putting runners on base. The Phillies went 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base.

Luzardo’s performance marked the third time in his last four starts he has struck out at least nine batters. He threw 99 pitches, 68 for strikes, and did not issue a walk until the fifth inning.

The Phillies will begin a three-game series at Detroit on Friday. The Reds open a three-game home series against the Chicago Cubs on Friday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Philadelphia 5, Cincinnati 3. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Philadelphia with a 56.70 percent probability to win. Philadelphia was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus 1.5. The total score of one run went over the over/under line of nine.