Categories: 2023 Postgame Recaps

Ranger Suárez delivers six strong innings as Phillies down Cardinals

Ranger Suárez went six strong on Saturday. (Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire)

With the the regular season nearing its close and the Phillies in the lead for the top spot in the National League wild-card race, playoff Ranger Suárez made an appearance on Saturday night in St. Louis.

The left-hander who played postseason hero in a swingman role on Philadelphia’s way to the World Series in 2022 was in control as a starter against the Cardinals, going six strong in a 6-1 Phillies victory at Busch Stadium. Alec Bohm put the Phillies on the board with an RBI single, while Kyle Schwarber added a three-run home run to help Philadelphia win its second straight to begin this three-game series.

The ever-calm Suárez looked locked in against the Cardinals, allowing only one run across his six innings. He surrendered four hits and four walks while striking out five.

It was an encouraging outing for the Phillies and Suárez, who will likely be the team’s third starter in the playoff rotation once again. He’ll be relied on to pitch big innings, and he appeared capable of the task in this game.

After Bohm hit an RBI single in the top of the first and Brandon Marsh added a sacrifice fly in the second, the Phillies gave Suárez a 2-0 lead to work with. The lefty allowed his lone run in the third inning as Paul Goldschmidt hit a run-scoring double to left, but Suárez later stranded the bases loaded to limit the damage.

Schwarber lined a three-run shot in the fifth to extend the Phillies’ lead to 5-1, a score that stood until the ninth as the bullpen took care of business behind Suárez. Jeff Hoffman pitched a clean seventh inning, while Yunior Marte and Gregory Soto combined for a scoreless eighth.

Johan Rojas added an insurance run in the top of the ninth with an RBI double before the Phillies handed the ball to Dylan Covey to take down the ninth. The Cardinals loaded the bases against Covey but the right-hander delivered another scoreless frame to seal the win.

The Phillies will go for the series sweep on Sunday afternoon in St. Louis.

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