Ranger Suárez Sets Phillies Record with 25 Scoreless Innings

Venezuelan pitcher Ranger Suárez set a new Philadelphia Phillies record by extending his scoreless streak to 25 innings in a 7-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday night. Suárez allowed only two hits in seven innings, striking out five and walking one, as he won his fourth straight start.

The 25-year-old left-hander's scoreless innings streak is the longest by a Phillies pitcher since Cliff Lee in 2011. Suárez's latest gem demonstrated his ability to mix his pitches, especially his changeup and curveball, to generate weak contact from opposing batters.

He has held opponents to an average exit velocity under 80 mph in six of his starts, including three in his last three outings.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said they planned to limit Suárez to 80 pitches, but he ended up throwing 88. "He was really, really efficient," Thomson said. "He was throwing strikes. He was getting early swings. He was getting early outs. He was pitching to contact."

Kody Clemens, who was promoted from Triple-A to play first base with Bryce Harper on paternity leave, hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning to help the Phillies extend their winning streak to seven games. The Phillies' victory marked their fourth shutout of the season, tying Cleveland for the most in the majors.

Why this matters: Suárez's dominant performance highlights the strength of the Phillies' pitching staff, which has been a key factor in the team's strong start to the season. The Phillies' starting rotation has a 2.20 ERA, the second-best mark in the Majors, and Suárez's scoreless streak is a testament to his development into a top-tier pitcher.

Suárez improved to 4-0 on the season with a 1.36 ERA, ranking 6th in MLB. He has also saved 11.87 runs this season, the best average among all MLB pitchers. The Phillies' bullpen completed the two-hitter against the Reds, giving the team its fourth shutout of the season. "Ranger was just outstanding tonight," Thomson said after the game. "He's been pitching really well for us all season, and tonight was just another example of how dominant he can be when he's on his game."

Key Takeaways

• Ranger Suárez set a new Phillies record with a 25-inning scoreless streak.
• Suárez allowed only 2 hits in 7 innings, striking out 5 and walking 1.
• Phillies' pitching staff has a 2.20 ERA, 2nd best in MLB, with 4 shutouts.
• Suárez improved to 4-0 with a 1.36 ERA, saving 11.87 runs, best in MLB.
• Kody Clemens hit a 3-run homer to help the Phillies extend their winning streak to 7 games.