Ranger Suarez, Phillies shut down Pirates

Field Level Media|published: Thu 11th April, 21:15 2024

Apr 6, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Ranger Suarez (55) pitches against the Washington Nationals during the second inning at Nationals Park. credits: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Ranger Suarez pitched six dominant innings and the Philadelphia Phillies hit three home runs to power past the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates 5-1 on Thursday.

Philadelphia, which hadn't logged an extra-base hit in its previous two games, got a solo home run from Alec Bohm and two-run shots from Brandon Marsh and Bryson Stott.

Suarez (2-0) limited Pittsburgh to two singles and struck out eight while walking two. The left-hander exited with a 1-0 lead thanks to Bohm blasting a hanging breaking ball into the Phillies' bullpen in center field with two outs in the fourth inning.

Bohm had two of Philadelphia's seven hits and made a sliding catch in foul territory on the third base side to secure the Phillies' second straight win.

Marsh pushed Philadelphia's lead to 3-0 in the seventh on an opposite-field home run initially ruled as an RBI double. A replay review determined that the drive cleared the wall in the left-center field for Marsh's fourth home run of the season, which scored J.T. Realmuto from first base.

Marsh's blast chased Pirates starter Jared Jones (1-2), who surrendered three runs on six hits over 6 1/3 innings. Jones struck out eight without walking a batter.

The Phillies capitalized on a Pittsburgh defensive gaffe to add on later in the seventh inning. Nick Castellanos reached second base after he lofted a lazy fly ball that Pittsburgh center fielder Michael A. Taylor missed as he nearly collided with right fielder Edward Olivares.

Stott then stepped up and crushed a 96 mph sinker off Colin Holderman deep into the right-center-field seats to grow Philadelphia's lead to 5-0.

Phillies reliever Yunior Marte struck out three batters in the seventh inning before Nick Nelson secured the final six outs as the Phillies improved to 7-6, marking the first time this season they are above .500.

Jared Triolo lined a two-out RBI single in the ninth inning to help the Pirates avoid their first shutout loss this season. Olivarez's two hits led Pittsburgh, which struck out 14 times.

—Field Level Media