Ranger Suárez labors through last start before break

Final Score: Athletics 6, Phillies 2

Ranger Suárez battled through another tough outing in a disappointing 6-2 loss to the Oakland Athletics.

He began the game with nine and six-pitch innings in the first and second, then allowed three runs on 32 pitches in the third. All four runs scored against Suárez came with two outs.

He badly needs a reset and even though he will likely pitch an inning in the All-Star Game, the break is coming at an opportune time. Suárez was falling behind hitters and could not throw his curveball and changeup for a strike. Eighteen of the 35 sinkers he threw were below 90 mph, but the lack of command and velocity was not concerning for Rob Thomson as evidenced by how long it took for him to get relievers warmed up when Suárez was in trouble. In the fifth, Thomson finally got a reliever going in the bullpen when the bases were loaded with two away and his pitch count in the inning at 25.

Suárez has allowed 15 earned runs in his last three starts. He allowed 14 earned runs combined over the first two months of the season. His season ERA is still a relatively clean 2.76.

Thomson said after the game there is “a good possibility” the Phillies slot Suárez in the back of the rotation with Zack Wheeler after the All-Star break.

The Phillies lineup did manage to drive up Athletics starter Hogan Harris’ pitch count to 70 through three, but only had one hit from innings four through seven. Both Alec Bohm and Bryce Harper, however, did hit into unfortunate inning-ending line drive double plays in the first and fifth innings.

Highlights

• Cristian Pache gave the Phillies an early 1-0 lead with an RBI double. The Phillies would later strand the bases loaded on a Trea Turner popup.

• Edmundo Sosa cut the deficit to 3-2 with an RBI single following a double play by Nick Castellanos in the third.

Notes

• Prior to the game, the Phillies released Whit Merrifield and called up Weston Wilson. Here’s why the Phillies are giving Wilson a shot in left field against lefties a few weeks before the trade deadline.
• Suárez threw 11 changeups on the night. None of them landed in the zone for a strike.
• Harris is the first starting pitcher to walk at least six and strike out zero batters in a start against the Phillies since the Rockies’ Greg Reynolds did it on May 28, 2008.
• Turner was ejected from the game in the bottom of the eighth by home plate umpire David Rackley for arguing balls and strikes.
• A’s closer and potential Phillies trade deadline target Mason Miller pitched a scoreless ninth inning.

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