Categories: 2023 Postgame Recaps

Ranger Suárez looks strong again as Phils pull through in extras

Ranger Suárez pitched well tonight. (Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire)

Final Score: Phillies 4, Diamondbacks 3

Coming into today, the Phillies had scored 30 runs over their last three games — 15 of which came in last night’s win. And even though the offense went rather silent tonight and the bullpen nearly spoiled Ranger Suárez’s strong outing, an error by the Diamondbacks in the tenth made way for a clutch at-bat by Nick Castellanos to give Philadelphia their third extra-innings win of the year.

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Philadelphia opened the scoring tonight in the second inning. After Bryson Stott started the frame with a triple, Kody Clemens worked a walk to put runners on the corners. Edmundo Sosa, who played third base tonight for Alec Bohm, then grounded a ball to the shortstop for a fielder’s choice to bring Stott home.

The Phillies scored again an inning later on another fielder’s choice. This one was by J.T. Realmuto with Trea Turner on third and Bryce Harper on first. Realmuto grounded a ball to the shortstop with one out in the inning and beat out the throw from second to keep the inning alive and give his team a 2-0 lead.

Arizona then threatened to score in the bottom half of the third, but came up empty. With runners on the corners and one out — after an error by Stott prevented a would-be inning-ending double play — Suárez was able to induce a ground ball that resulted in an inning-ending 3-6-1 double play.

The game remained 2-0 until the top of the sixth when Realmuto hit his seventh home run of the year to give the Phillies a three-run lead:

Suárez did not allow a run in his seven innings of work tonight. He struck out seven D-Backs hitters, while walking two and allowing just four hits. The southpaw has a 1.35 ERA over his last four starts after posting a 9.82 ERA in his first three outings of the season.

However, the three runs the Phillies had entering the bottom of the eighth were not enough for Seranthony Domínguez. With two outs and two runners on, Domínguez surrendered a game-tying, three-run home run on a 2-2 pitch to Norristown native Christian Walker:

Domínguez then gave up a single to Evan Longoria and was removed from the game. Gregory Soto replaced Domínguez, and after walking the first batter he faced, the left-hander was able to get out of the inning one hitter later.

Philadelphia was able to get the go-ahead run in scoring position with two outs in the ninth thanks to a double by Sosa, but Brandon Marsh struck out to end the inning and keep the game tied at three runs apiece.

Craig Kimbrel came on in the home half of the ninth, and despite the game-winning run making its way to third base with two outs, he was able to get out the inning to send the game into extra innings.

The Phillies retook the lead in the tenth. Turner flied a ball to shallow right field that was seemingly the second out of the inning, but two D-Backs defenders collided and the ball dropped onto the outfield grass — allowing the ghost runner Marsh to advance to third, while Turner wound up at second. That brought Castellanos to the plate and he delivered a sacrifice fly to put Philadelphia ahead 4-3.

José Alvarado was tasked with picking up the save in the bottom of the tenth, and after a one-out walk, he was able to get the next two batters he faced to strike out and ground out to end the ballgame.

Shibe Vintage Sports Notes

Phillies hitters went a combined 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position through the first nine innings tonight.
The Phillies are now 9-4 in June and 3-3 versus the Diamondbacks this season.
And yes, tonight’s win means the Phillies are once again .500 (34-34) on the year.

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