Spencer Turnbull, bullpen step up in Suárez’s absence in win against Cardinals

Final Score: Phillies 6, Cardinals 1

The packed house at Citizens Bank Park was rocking as the Phillies put up a three spot against Cardinals starter Sonny Gray in the second inning.

That energy quickly turned into angst when Ranger Suárez was hit with a hard comebacker off the bat of Alec Burleson and did not emerge from the dugout for the third inning. He left the game with a left hand contusion. We’ll know more about his status after the game.

But the bullpen stepped up big time in Suárez’s absence. Jose Ruiz gave up a run after quickly warming up in the bottom of the third. Spencer Turnbull kept it all together, throwing three shutout innings and striking out six Cardinals batters.

Orion Kerkering, with runners on the corners and two away in the seventh, came inside with a perfectly placed 99 mph fastball for the strike out to end the inning. Seranthony Domínguez retired the Cardinals 1-2-3 in the eighth and Gregory Soto stranded Paul Goldschmidt at second to end the game.

Bryce Harper put the game away with a two-out two-run shot to the second deck in right field. An error from Nolan Arenado on a ground ball to third from J.T. Realmuto kept the inning alive. It was the difference between the Phillies using Domínguez in the eighth inning instead of Jeff Hoffman, which could factor into Sunday’s series finale as the Phillies go for the sweep.

Highlights

• Alec Bohm and Nick Castellanos both doubled into the left-center field gap against Gray as part of a three-run first inning.

• Marsh added a fourth run in the third on a single to drive home Bryce Harper.

• This 99 mph fastball from Kerkering to strike out Gorman was a thing of beauty:

• A scorcher from Harper against the lefty John King pushed the lead to 6-1 in the seventh.

Notes

• Gorman scored from third on a sacrifice fly to cut the lead to 3-1. The throw from Castellanos in right field was strong, but not enough to get him at the plate.
• Harper now has five home runs this season with two outs and runners in scoring position.
• Domínguez has not allowed an earned run in six straight appearances.
• The Phillies’ lead in the NL East is up to a season-high 7.5 games after the Braves dropped one against the Oakland Athletics 11-9.

Ticket IQ Next Game

• Sunday, June 2 vs. St. Louis Cardinals at Citizens Bank Park
• 7:10 p.m. EST
• ESPN
• 94 WIP

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