Ranger Suárez shines once again as Phillies capture series win over Atlanta Braves
Ranger Suárez allowed just one run and four hits against the Houston Astros on Tuesday, June 24, in 7 2/3 innings pitch. Despite this, he picked up his second loss of the season as the Philadelphia Phillies’ bats went quiet. His teammates couldn’t score a single run and a stellar Suárez outing was spoiled by a 1-0 defeat.
This time around in their series finale with the Atlanta Braves on Sunday, June 29, the Phillies offense made sure another Suárez gem didn’t go to waste. The Fightins capped off their road trip with a 2-1 win over the Braves to take two of three in Atlanta and capture the series win.
Suárez put up another quality start, giving up one earned run and allowing just four hits in seven innings. The Braves sole run came off the bat of Sean Murphy in the second inning, as he crushed the first pitch he saw 451 feet into deep center field. Suarez shut down Atlanta’s offense from then on and tied his season high with eight strikeouts.
Unlike the last time he was on the bump, Suárez was backed up at the plate by his offense, scoring two runs in the fifth inning to take the 2-1 lead.
Bryson Stott got the fifth started with a leadoff single with Otto Kemp next up to bat. Kemp, who hit his first major league homer just two days prior against the Braves, got his 10th RBI since being called up with an RBI double to score Stott and tie the game. A sacrifice bunt from Brandon Marsh moved Kemp to third and Trea Turner would bring Kemp home with a sacrifice fly to center field.
The Phillies also drove home runs facing off against a not-so-fan favorite pitcher in Spencer Strider. Strider hit his second-lowest strikeout margin with four this game in seven innings to suffer the loss.
The Phillies will now finally return home to Philadelphia this upcoming week after a disappointing road trip. They went 2-4 on the road trip and will open their homestand on Monday, June 30 with the San Diego Padres. Zack Wheeler will take the mound with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m.