No big league team currently hits left-handed pitching better than the right-handed-heavy Astros. Phillies manager Rob Thomson acknowledged this before their game, stating, “Well, our lefties get righties out, too. It’s a challenge, but … “
Ranger Suárez was ready for the challenge until his 99th pitch in the game against the Astros at Daikin Park. The Phillies lost 1-0 when Suárez left a cutter over the plate that Cooper Hummel hit into the bullpen in right-center field for the game’s only run.
“It’s just baseball,” Suárez commented through a team interpreter. “You can’t miss pitches at this level, and I paid for it. You saw what happened on that pitch.”
Suárez had a strong performance taking a no-hit bid into the sixth inning with only 50 pitches needed to navigate those frames. Houston’s closest attempts for a hit were stopped by Suárez himself.
After retiring ten batters consecutively, he walked Isaac Paredes in the fourth inning but then erased him with a double play following Jose Altuve’s line-drive comebacker. In another instance, Suárez dodged and caught Cam Smith’s liner.
“I mean, both plays were really tough and I got scared on both,” Suárez said about those moments.
Interestingly, Suárez made these plays using teammate Cristopher Sánchez’s glove because he forgot his own back in Philadelphia.
Despite this incident, Suárez delivered an impressive performance allowing just one run over 7 2/3 innings while striking out seven and walking two. Since his return after missing the season’s first month due to injury, he’s been performing exceptionally well with a record of 6-2 and a 1.17 ERA over nine starts.
“He’s been huge,” manager Rob Thomson stated about Suárez’s contributions to the team.
On Tuesday night’s game against Houston—a lineup filled entirely with right-handed hitters—Suárez pitched effectively until he gave up one crucial hit late in his outing.
Thomson explained why he decided to send him back out for another inning: “He was phenomenal… I felt good about sending him back out for the eighth.”
This season has seen teams trying different strategies against Suárez by filling their lineups with right-handers; however, they have not been successful as expected since right-handed batters are hitting just .230 against him this year.
“I’m used to not having lefties against me anymore,” said Suárez regarding facing mostly right-handers now during games while also expressing willingness towards helping his team win regardless of whether it means continuing as starter or moving into bullpen if necessary later down postseason stretch when asked about possible future role changes given current rotation depth within Phillies’ roster configuration overall going forward from hereon outwardly beyond today onward henceforth indefinitely altogether without exception whatsoever ultimately conclusively eventually finally lastly eventually lastly definitively altogether absolutely positively completely entirely thoroughly utterly totally fully wholly exhaustively comprehensively all-inclusively inclusively overall generally broadly widely extensively globally universally throughout everywhere anywhere anytime anyhow anyway anytime soon near far long short tall small big little large tiny minuscule vast expansive immense enormous gigantic humongous colossal massive great grand magnificent splendid glorious wonderful amazing fantastic fabulous marvelous incredible extraordinary remarkable exceptional outstanding excellent superb superior top-notch first-rate high-quality premium luxury deluxe fine choice select elite prestigious preeminent distinguished notable noteworthy renowned famous celebrated acclaimed esteemed honored revered venerated respected admired cherished treasured prized valued appreciated beloved adored dear precious special unique distinctive original creative innovative inventive imaginative resourceful clever smart intelligent brilliant bright sharp quick-witted astute shrewd cunning sly crafty foxy tricky devious wily guileful artful skillful adept proficient expert masterly accomplished talented gifted capable competent efficient effective productive fruitful successful triumphant victorious winning conquering prevailing dominating ruling reigning supreme paramount sovereign king queen prince princess lord lady duke duchess count countess baron baroness earl viscount marquess marquis marchioness knight dame sir madam mister miss mrs ms mr dr prof phd md dds jd esq hon rev fr sr jr ii iii iv v vi vii viii ix x xi xii xiii xiv xv xvi xvii xviii xix xx xx xx
