Spencer Turnbull bullpen step up in Suárez’s absence in win against Cardinals.
The packed house at Citizens Bank Park was rocking as the Phillies put up a three spot against Cardinals starter Sonny Gray in the second inning.
That energy quickly turned into angst when Ranger Suárez was hit with a hard comebacker off the bat of Alec Burleson and did not emerge from the dugout for the third inning. He left the game with a left hand contusion. We’ll know more about his status after the game.
But the bullpen stepped up big time in Suárez’s absence. Jose Ruiz gave up a run after quickly warming up in the bottom of the third. Spencer Turnbull kept it all together, throwing three shutout innings and striking out six Cardinals batters.
Orion Kerkering, with runners on the corners and two away in the seventh, came inside with a perfectly placed 99 mph fastball for the strike out to end the inning. Seranthony Domínguez retired the Cardinals 1-2-3 in the eighth and Gregory Soto stranded Paul Goldschmidt at second to end the game.
Bryce Harper put the game away with a two-out two-run shot to the second deck in right field. An error from Nolan Arenado on a ground ball to third from J.T. Realmuto kept the inning alive. It was the difference between the Phillies using Domínguez in the eighth inning instead of Jeff Hoffman, which could factor into Sunday’s series finale as the Phillies go for the sweep.
