Ranger Suarez struggles in 7-2 loss to Braves
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - JUNE 25: Ranger Suarez #55 of the Philadelphia Phillies in the dugout in the fourth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on June 25, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images)
Ranger Suarez made his first start at Citizens Bank Park since July 12, and it got off to a magnificent start.
He struck out the side in the first inning, then struck out the first two in the second, and finished off the frame by forcing a groundout. It was starting to look like the Phillies were going to get another great start from Suarez, similar to what they got in Kansas City last weekend.
It was all downhill after that in the Phillies’ 7-2 loss to the Braves Friday night.
In the third and fourth innings, Suarez allowed four earned runs, five hits, a walk, and back-to-back solo homers to Orlando Arcia and Sean Murphy. He was pulled after the fourth and 78 pitches, just six more than he threw in his first start off the IL in Kansas City.
His season ERA is 3.02. This is the first time it has been above three since April 11.
Jose Ruiz, Max Lazar, Yunior Marte, and Tanner Banks threw five innings of relief, allowing three runs.
A positive? No high-leverage guys were used Friday night. They will all be ready to go for the next two games of this series on Saturday and Sunday night. They should also have Jose Alvarado, who returned to the club Friday and is expected to be reactivated Sunday.
Meanwhile, Reynaldo Lopez got the start for the Braves and continued his dominance over the Phils. He has a 1.06 ERA vs. Philadelphia and allowed two homers Friday night to Bryson Stott and J.T. Realmuto. It is concerning to me that the last two nights, all the Phillies’ runs have come off the home run ball. It is great that they are hitting the ball out of the yard, but you are not going to win games if you rely on the long ball. The Phillies left seven guys on, They had seven hits.
A good thing is though that the Braves had to use Pierce Johnson for a second night and Joe Jimenez in a five-run game. Johnson threw 25 pitches and Jimenez threw 32. The Braves used some high-leverage guys, but the Phillies did not. Trying to spin some sort of positive out of this one.
The lead is back down to five in the NL East. The Braves have now clinched the season series against the Phillies. That could become important if this division race gets tight down the stretch. The Brewers also won Friday night, matching their 79-56 record with the Phillies. The two are now tied for the second seed in the National League. Only the top two seeds get a bye. Things are getting interesting, folks.
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