The Phillies ended their regular season road schedule with a thud, dropping the rubber match of their series with the Arizona Diamondbacks by a final score of 9-2. Ranger Suárez allowed five runs in the second inning and six overall in just four total innings while the Phillies offense collected eleven hits but were 1-14 with runners in scoring position and stranded thirteen runners on base. The loss ended a streak of six straight series wins for Philadelphia.
Suárez struggled right out of the gate, as he allowed a double to Ketel Marte and a bunt single to Geraldo Perdomo to begin his afternoon in the bottom of the first. Corbin Carroll then plated Arizona’s first run of the game with a groundout before Otto Kemp mishandled a ball hit to second base by Gabriel Moreno and then uncorked a throwing error that allowed Moreno and Carroll to advance to second and third respectively. Suárez however was able to escape the inning with a strikeout and a groundout.
But he struggled even harder in the second inning, allowing four straight batters to reach base with three singles and a walk. The third single from Marte scored two and pushed the D-Backs’ lead to 3-0. Suárez recovered for one out by getting Perdomo to fly out to deep right, but then Carroll delivered the early knockout blow with a three-run homer that broke the game open at 6-0.
Suárez would last only four innings while allowing those six runs on eight hits and one walk with two strikeouts. He needed 79 pitches to record 12 outs.
Meanwhile, the Phillies offense couldn’t offer much in the way of resistance against Arizona starter Eduardo Rodriguez, who finished six shutout innings despite allowing six hits and three walks. The Phillies had at least one runner in scoring position in the second, fourth, and fifth against Rodriguez but were not able to plate anything. Alec Bohm and Weston Wilson both had leadoff doubles but advanced no further in the second and fifth respectively.
Philadelphia looked primed to take advantage of a tiring Rodriguez in the sixth when Bryson Stott once again led off an inning with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Wilson walked to put runners at the corners with no outs, bringing in new pitcher Philip Abner. But Harrison Bader popped up to second and Kyle Schwarber grounded into a double play to erase the threat.
The bats finally broke through in the eighth, but it was far too little, far too late, as the score was already 8-0 Diamondbacks at that point. Nick Castellanos singled with runners on first and second to break up the shutout and then a pair of walks from Stott and Wilson forced in another run, but Bader lined out with the bases loaded and two outs on a great running grab from center fielder Jorge Barrosa to douse any hope of a miracle comeback.
The Phillies will come home to play their final six games of the regular season, first starting on Tuesday with three against the Miami Marlins. Cristopher Sánchez (13-5, 2.66) will take the mound for Philadelphia. Miami has yet to officially name a starter. First pitch is scheduled for 6:45 pm.
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