Ranger Suarez and Small-Ball Powers Phillies to 2-1 Win

In a rubber match game, it was the men on the rubber who excelled for each team, and the Phillies’ starter outdueled the Braves’ in their 2-1 victory.

Ranger Suarez, in his second start of the road trip, took the mound for the Phillies. Suarez had a 2.08 ERA coming into today and is fresh off a 7-inning, 1-run performance.

For the Braves, Spencer Strider took the mound. In his first start against the Phillies, he plunked Bryce Harper, which has kept him off the field the last few weeks. He went 4.2 innings that game and got the loss despite allowing only one run. In a sense, it was a revenge game for the Phillies because their star player had been out since that hit by pitch, although unintentional on Strider’s part.

It was also up to the Phillies’ offense to avenge their poor performance in Suarez’s last start.

The Phillies threatened in the top of the first. Kyle Schwarber ripped a Strider fastball up the middle, Nick Castellanos singled with two outs, and Max Kepler worked a full-count walk to load the bases. Strider fell behind to J.T. Realmuto 2-0 but got him to chop one to shortstop to end the inning.

Suarez’s only baserunner in the first was from an odd infield hit by Matt Olson. A soft pop-up to Alec Bohm, who was shifted towards short, gave Olson enough time to beat it out.

The Phillies’ offense, which has seen its ups and downs through the week, struggled to find its rhythm in the next few innings. Brandon Marsh and Otto Kemp both made loud-outs in the second with a 100 mph groundout and a 102 mph lineout. Strider then got Trea Turner, Schwarber, and Bohm to all ground out in seven pitches in the third inning.

Strider had run support by then. Sean Murphy, who blew the game open last night with a grand slam, took a sinker 450 feet to dead center, to make it 1-0 Braves.

Suarez worked through the top of the Braves’ order in the third. Ronald Acuna Jr. popped up, then Suarez got Olson and Ozuna down on strikes.

It was the Phillies’ turn to go to work. Bryson Stott led off the top of the fifth with a single up the middle. Kemp wasted no time in his at-bat as he ripped a double down the line — his second ball in play over 100 mph. Stott scored, and the game was tied at one.

Marsh was tasked with moving Kemp over to third, and he did just that with a sac-bunt. Turner, with the infield in, skied a ball to centerfield, giving Kemp plenty of time to tag up and score, 2-1 Phils.

They had already doubled the runs scored in Suarez’s last start.

Although Schwarber worked a walk and got his eighth stolen base of the year, Bohm went down on strikes to end the inning. But the Phillies had the lead.

It was now Suarez’s job to protect the first lead he’s had in 12 innings with the Braves’ top of the order coming up. He worked through his fifth, only giving up a weak single to Acuna. Olson ended the inning with his second strikeout of the day.

Castellanos led the sixth inning off with a double, and Kepler followed that up with his second walk of the day. Realmuto then grounded into a double play — his 11th of the year. The Phillies would not score, despite the leadoff double.

Suarez’s sixth was smooth. He got Marcell Ozuna down on strikes for the third time today, Austin Riley on a three-pitch strikeout, and a weak grounder off the bat of Ozzie Albies.

The Phillies needed more run support, especially with their bullpen. However, Strider wouldn’t budge. He put Kemp, Marsh, and Turner down in order to end his night. Strider pitched a solid 7 innings, allowing 5 hits, 2 earned runs, and 3 walks while striking out 4.

Suarez took the bump in the 7th with 90 pitches, hoping to get through one more inning for the sake of his bullpen. He retired the Braves in order on six pitches. Suraez went 7 innings, letting up 4 hits, 1 earned run, and 1 walk with 8 strikeouts. Yet another masterful outing from Suarez, who has allowed nine earned runs in his last 10 starts.

It was now up to each team’s bullpen, though the Phillies had the one-run advantage. They also had the heart of their order up in the eighth to extend that lead.

Schwarber led off with a first-pitch single to left, and Bohm followed that up with a deep fly ball that almost left the stadium. He got two bags out of it, and the Phillies were in business with two runners in scoring position.

Castellanos struck out in four pitches, so it was up to Kepler and Realmuto to bring them in. Kepler’s fly ball wasn’t deep enough for Schwarber to tag on, and Realmuto grounded out again.

Orion Kerkering came in to lock down the eighth against the Braves 9, 1, 2 hitters. Kerkering struck out the first two batters, and after an Olson single, he struck out Ozuna, giving him his Golden Sombrero.

The Phillies’ offense was quiet in the ninth, and it was up to Matt Strahm to close the game out. Strahm, who has seen his fair share of struggles lately, has the opportunity to take a step in the right direction. Albies managed a one-out single, and Sean Murphy made a loud out to deep centerfield. Strahm then walked Eli White, and a wild pitch made it runners on the corners with two outs.

Stuart Fairchild ended the game with a deep fly ball to center. Phillies win 2-1.

Although it wasn’t a pretty save for Strahm, it wasn’t a blown one.

Suarez was dominant for yet another start and looks to be the Phillies’ 2nd or 3rd best starter, between him and Cristopher Sanchez.

It was a good ending to the road trip as they took the series win against the Braves, seemingly flushing the Astros series.

They’ll come back home for a six-game homestand during the week of the Fourth of July.

---

Use code PHILLYSPORTSREPORT for $20 off your first SeatGeek order

Click here to save 10% on any order at FOCO