Bryce Harper picks up steam and Ranger Suárez records a shutout as the Phillies win the series.
Ranger Suárez put on a brilliant performance that required the least amount of assistance possible during a Phillies offense that was in a rut to begin the season. However, Bryce Harper, who needed a boost, nevertheless supplied some support.
Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia defeated the Colorado Rockies 5-0 thanks to a complete-game shutout thrown by the ever-calm left-hander Suárez. In these three games, Harper added a double, a home run, and three RBIs to help the Phillies win the series.
In achieving his second career shutout, Suárez dominated the strike zone, fielded his position with composure, and dodged the infrequent trouble he encountered with the support of his defense. He gave up seven hits, one walk, and eight strikeouts.
Harper struck
With two ninth-inning singles allowed by Colorado, Suárez worked his way around them. To finish the game, he calmly fielded a grounder back to the mound and tossed it to first to complete his shutout.
To start the Phillies on the first pitch, catcher J.T. Realmuto hit a two-run home run into the left-center field bleachers in the bottom of the first. They scored the two unearned runs by taking advantage of a throwing error made earlier in the inning by Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar.
After Ryan McMahon infield single, Alan Trejo veered too far off third base, giving Harper the opportunity to chase him down and toss to Alec Bohm, who tag Trejo out to end the inning, saving Suárez and the Phillies from further damage. With two outs, the Rockies would have had runners on first and third.
Furthering his defensive efforts, left fielder Brandon Marsh turned and unloaded a line drive that Elehuris Montero had hit off the wall.
