Phillies Find Their Groove, Suarez Shines, Offense Delivers vs Blue Jays

Last time Ranger Suarez took the mound for the Phillies, he pitched a great game against the Pirates, going 7 strong innings, and if he could give that type of performance again, it would make the weekend easier for Phillies manager Rob Thomson. He could save the stressed-out bullpen a little, and to be honest, the bullpen needs all the help it can get lately.

Suarez definitely came home with a vengeance against the Toronto Blue Jays, giving Thomson 7 strong innings, his longest outing of the season, as the Phillies shut out the Blue Jays, 8-0. He didn’t allow an earned run this time, and he didn’t even walk anyone until the 6th inning, the first inning that he had any kind of adversity. He pitched great, and that allowed the Phils’ middle relief to take a break on a rest day as well. When he’s on, he moves the ball east and west, and he did that tonight, and that got him 8 ground ball outs. This start gives the Phillies the league lead in quality starts with 37. Showing how dominating this Phillies rotation has been this season.

The bullpen was shut down as well. Joe Ross came in and struggled with control a bit in the 8th, but got through it without breaking, and Taijuan Walker came in for a calm 9th to shut down the Jays to close out the game.

In the Phillies’ breakout second inning, the Phillies were starting to figure out the Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman, so when Kyle Schwarber came to the plate, the tension was palpable, and obvious by the look on the face of Gausman. Already down by a run he didn’t want to give in to him, he threw back to back fastballs the second was an outside fastball, which Schwarber has struggled with over the last couple of weeks, and Schwarber turned on it, and hit a majestic home run that just cleared the center field fence to make the game 4-0.

The day off helped the Phillies’ offense because all aspects of the game were greatly improved. Not only did Schwarber hit the ball better, but the Phils were drawing out at-bats and getting deeper into counts, and not chasing as many bad pitches. In the 8th, Max Kepler and J.T. Realmuto hit back-to-back doubles, Brandon Marsh hit a sac fly to score Realmuto, and Trea Turner singled and drove home Bryson Stott, who scored on perhaps a perfect slide by Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk, making the game 8-0.

Clutch hitting was a huge problem during this slide the Phils were in, and tonight the Phillies were 6-11 with runners in scoring position, and there was a sense of urgency at the plate which we didn’t see against the Brewers, Pirates, or even the Blue Jays in Toronto last week. It appears that the Phils’ offense is starting to find its identity, without Bryce Harper, who remains on the injured list.

Tomorrow, Cristopher Sanchez will be taking on Bowden Francis, whom the Phillies lit up for 6 earned runs and didn’t even allow him to finish the second inning. The Phils’ offense needs to keep its foot on the gas and keep the momentum going. A win tomorrow gets a second series in a row and builds the confidence of the offense brick by brick.

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Steve Hamilton

Steve may have been born in California, but don’t let that fool you. After dating a local woman and clashing with her and her family over sports for decades, he has an affinity for Philly sports. Balancing love for Philly and Bay Area sports teams may seem impossible, we can all agree that the Cowboys are the true evil.

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