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Ranger Suarez’s Pursuit of History Aided by Bryce Harper’s Rallying Cry in Win Over Mets

Anthony SanFilippo

By Anthony SanFilippo

Published:

May 15, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Ranger Suarez (55) throws a pitch against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Bryce Harper walked into the dugout before the Phillies batted in the bottom of the fifth inning. They were trailing by a run and he knew Ranger Suarez was not going to go back out and pitch the sixth inning.

His message to his teammates was simple:

“Let’s get him a W,” Harper told them.

The Phillies then proceeded to grind through several at bats, loading the bases and scoring the tying run without even getting a hit. J.T. Realmuto, back in the lineup after three days off with knee soreness, put them ahead with an RBI single. Then Harper stepped to the plate and ripped a double that scored two more.

When the inning concluded, the Phillies were ahead by three, putting Suarez in line for the win.

They would tack on more in what would be a 10-5 victory, and a third straight win over the New York Mets. It built their record to an eye-popping 31-13. It extended their lead in the N.L. East over an equally hot Atlanta Braves team to three games.

More importantly, it showed just how important these players are to one another.

It wasn’t just about winning another game – that’s the focus every game, regardless of record or standing or anything else – when you are a competitor in a team sport, especially at the professional level, it’s never going to be any different.

But it was about doing something for a teammate who has done so much himself up to this point. Harper had three hits in the game. It started with his team-leading 10th homer of the season in the first inning.

But knowing Suarez wasn’t pitching beyond the fifth, created a sense of urgency, and Harper knew it was the right time to energize the dugout.

“He was coming out of the game and obviously we know what he’s doing right now (statistically),” Harper said. “You just want to pick up your teammates and play the best baseball you can.”

That’s what the Phillies have been doing for quite some time, with the best record in baseball and on pace to win 114 games. It’s weird to think that this team was 8-8 just over a month ago. They’ve only lost two games in a row twice – the first two games of the season against Atlanta and two games in Cincinnati in late April.

While it’s been a team effort from top to bottom, there’s no question it’s been the starting pitching that has really been a difference maker. And as good as the big money guys like Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola have been, the most impressive guy – maybe in the entire league at this point, has been Suarez.

With the win, he improved to 8-0 and lowered his ERA to 1.37. He pitched just five innings – which was somewhat of a plan, as the Phillies wanted to give him a pull-back start to conserve a little bit and also to get Spencer Turnbull some bulk relief innings – and in those five innings Suarez allowed four hits and two walks with two unearned runs.

That said, he wasn’t all that happy with his performance.

“It was not a great game for me,” he said, through a team interpreter.

Imagine not allowing any earned runs and being unsatisfied with the performance. That’s the kind of heater he’s on.

Suarez will never make excuses, but the first couple of innings were played in a rainstorm, making it hard to get a good grip on some of his pitches. But after giving up a double to Pete Alonso and walking Francisco Lindor to lead off the third inning and uncorking a wild pitch to the next batter, J.D. Martinez, Suarez settled in, and retired nine of the next 11 Mets hitters, sprinkling in one walk and one single that never threatened to score.

Suarez has now won 10 straight decisions, dating back to last season. He’s only the second Phillies lefthander to do that, joining Steve Carlton. He’s the first Phillies pitcher to do it since Roy Oswalt in 2011.

His 1.37 ERA is the third-lowest in franchise history for a starter through nine games. The only numbers lower occurred more than a century ago – Grover Cleveland Alexander in 1916 and Lee Meadows in 1919. (Kinkead – I remember it like it was yesterday)

This is what Harper meant when he said, “We know what he’s doing right now.”

Suarez’s next start will be challenge, as it will come against the defending champion Texas Rangers.

(Hey, Ranger vs. the Rangers!)

If he wins that one, it’ll mark just the 16th time ever that a pitcher was at least 9-0 in 10 starts or fewer to start a major league season – and it’s only happened twice in the last 37 years:

  • 1997 – Roger Clemens
  • 2016 – Jake Arrieta

With teammates who are intimately aware of chasing history, it’s a sure bet they will do everything they can to continue to add his name to an ever-shrinking list.

Johan Rojas – defensive struggles?

Here’s something you probably didn’t expect – Rojas has been better of late at the plate than in the outfield.

Considering he’s hitting just .233 with a .601 OPS, that’s not saying much for his defense.

Rojas flubbed two fly balls Wednesday night. He dropped a ball hit right at him on the first batter of the game that led to an unearned run in the first inning, and he missed a ball that was scored a double but should have caught in the eighth inning, that ultimately cost Turnbull two earned runs in an inning he should have been out of.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Rojas had rain pelting his eyes on the first one:

The manager added that Rojas didn’t need to try and dive for the second one.

But Rojas wasn’t making any excuses after the game. He refused to even chalk it up to being overly aggressive while trying to make a play and he wouldn’t even lean into the rain as a reason.

“There’s no excuse,” he said through a team interpreter. “I should have caught those balls. The important thing is for me to show up tomorrow and work on that. I’ll give my 100% to be better.”

Anthony SanFilippo
Anthony SanFilippo

Anthony SanFilippo writes about the Phillies and Flyers for Crossing Broad and hosts a pair of related podcasts (Crossed Up and Snow the Goalie). A part of the Philadelphia sports media for a quarter century, Anthony also dabbles in acting, directing, teaching, and strategic marketing, which is why he has no time to do anything, but does it anyway. Follow him on Twitter @AntSanPhilly.

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