Big night as Phillies dominate Marlins behind Suarez, 7-8-9 originally aired on NBC Sports Philadelphia
MIAMI — They're 27-12 not just because of their starting rotation, star-studded lineup or situational hitting, but because they have a talent gap compared to most clubs on most nights. Not because it's enough to overcome imperfect performance.
The Phillies are 27-12 because production has carried over from everywhere, series to series, city to city.
On Friday, for example, they went 3-for-18 with runners in scoring position, but easily won behind Ranger Suarez. The final score was 8-2, but it seemed even more lopsided considering the Marlins' energetic offense and mistakes on the field.
The win was the Phils' 10th in the last 11 series openers. They outscored their opponents 66-20 in those games.
Since Trea Turner was sidelined with a hamstring strain, the Phillies have won 12 of 14 games and 6 of 7. He hasn't faced such a difficult schedule, but over the past two weeks he has handled a difficult starting rotation of Jose Berrios, Chris Bassitt, Dylan Schiess, Logan Webb, Hunter Greene and Andrew Abbott.
Friday night took a different turn, with the Phillies hiring left-hander Trevor Rogers, who has struggled with command for the third consecutive season since finishing second to Jonathan India in the 2021 National League Rookie of the Year race. .
Mr. Miami's Nick Castellanos took the lead with a 400-foot solo home run to right-center field on the first pitch of the second inning. It was the same spot as his ninth-inning game-tying homer at Angel Stadium last week, and in both cases he knew it from the start.
The Phils continued to attack, as they have for over a month. Edmundo Sosa struggled with one out and a double, Johan Rojas scored on a double to center field, stole base in the fifth, hit a home run with two outs in the seventh, and scored on a single to lead off the ninth inning. . The Phillies have allowed 80 RBIs with two outs this season, seven more than any team in the majors and 10 more than any team in the National League. They are backbreakers, especially if they come from the bottom of the standings.
The 6-7-8-9 batting lineup held on until the fourth inning, chasing Rodgers. Whit Merrifield started the frame with an error, Sosa issued a walk, and eight-hole hitter Cristian Pache hit a double on Merrifield. The lineup reversed, Kyle Schwarber singled, and Sosa and Pache scored.
Pache singled in the fifth inning with one out, and third baseman Jake Berger's second error of the game gave the Phillies a run and was once again the key to the Phillies' comeback.
This is Pache's second start since April 24th. The Phillies are scheduled to face left-handed pitchers all weekend, with Jesus Luzardo scheduled to return from injured reserve on Saturday and Braxton Garrett scheduled to play on Sunday. They'll probably see Sean Manaea again Monday in New York.
As a result, Bryson Stott and Brandon Marsh had Friday night off. Merrifield played second base and Pache played left field. That doesn't mean Stott and Marsh will play in three or four of those games, but head coach Rob Thomson identified the series opener as a starting spot for Pache, and the second-year Philly is set to play in three or four of those games. He gave a wise impression.
Pache's best series as a Philadelphia player came last July at this same park, when he hit a go-ahead two-run homer off the bench in the ninth inning, a double the next day, and a single in the final game. Ta. Shortly after that series, he was placed on the disabled list due to inflammation in his right elbow caused by a screw inserted years earlier. This situation opened the door for Rojas' first major league call-up, and Pache has been trying to find his way into the lineup ever since.
Suarez had another stress-free night, leading the Marlins to seven scoreless innings and improving to 7-0 with a 1.50 ERA. He faced the worst three batters in 28 of 54 innings this season, allowing just 31 hits, walking eight batters, and striking out 55.
The Phillies have won 11 consecutive games since last September, second only to Suarez. He was the only one on base in any given inning, and the first five innings didn't last much longer than a commercial break as the Phillies went through long half-innings.
Taijuan Walker will look to keep up the good vibes in Saturday's game at 4:10 p.m. As his two starts have proven, he doesn't have to be perfect to put this hot team in position to win. He allowed nine runs in 12 1/3 innings, but the Phillies won both games. With Zach Wheeler out on Sunday, the Phillies once again have a great chance to win at least two of three games.
