Phillies’ Offense Breaks Out as Suarez Shines in First Start Back from IL
Matt Slocum/AP Photo
Jokes have been spreading around social media that Whit Merrifield’s release was the root of the Phillies’ recent struggles. Before game two against the Royals, the Phillies were 13-22 since releasing him on July 12, at which point the Phillies were 61-32.
Today, however, that narrative may have changed. The so-called “X factor” may not be Merrifield at all. Instead, it may be someone who returned to the team recently, not someone who left. You guessed it: Ranger Suarez, the Phillies’ all-star southpaw.
Suarez certainly left his mark early on this season, opening his 2024 campaign with one of the most impressive stints in Phillies history. By the end of April, Suarez boasted a 1.32 ERA and 0.63 WHIP, earning National League Pitcher of the Month. He threw the second complete-game shutout of his big-league career on April 16, silencing the Colorado Rockies in front of the Philly Faithful. His success carried over into May, where he posted a 2.32 ERA for the month and entered June with a sub-one WHIP, a sub-two ERA, and a near-perfect 9-1 record.
Experiencing some mid-season turbulence, Suarez was put on the injured list on July 27 with a lower back injury, and in his first start back today, it seems that he has not missed a beat. In five innings of work today, Suarez allowed just one run—Freddy Fermin’s RBI single in the fifth inning—on four hits and a walk, and he struck out six batters. He needed just 72 pitches to earn his eleventh win of the season, and his first since June 8. His curveball worked as an effective swing-and-miss pitch, while his well-commanded sinkers earned him four looking strikeouts.
“[Suarez] commanded the strike zone great, got ahead, [and] was able to throw swing-and-miss pitches when he needed them,” Phillies’ catcher J.T. Realmuto told reporters after the game. “He’s a calming presence in our clubhouse. When he is on the mound, we know we’re going to have a good chance to win the game.
To no one’s surprise, the veteran catcher remained humble, but Realmuto’s efforts at the plate were just as impactful as Suarez was on the mound. Realmuto hit two three-run home runs—in two consecutive at-bats, to boot—and tallied seven RBI on the day. And to put the icing on the cake, he nabbed Dairon Blanco attempting to steal third base with two outs in the third inning.
“When J.T. hit that first three-run homer, everybody exhaled at that point,” manager Rob Thomson said.
Luckily, Realmuto was not the only one to make an impact on offense. Trea Turner recorded three hits and two RBI, Bryce Harper had an RBI double, Austin Hays knocked in a run, and Bryson Stott tied a career-high in hits in a single game with his 4-4 evening.
Overall, the Phillies recorded 18 hits as they forced a rubber match with the Royals thanks to their 11-2 victory in game two. On Sunday, they will send spot starter Kolby Allard to the mound to make his fourth major-league appearance (third start) of 2024.
“It’s just up and down… [but] it was really, really good to see everybody start to click a little bit,” Thomson said.
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