Game 57 - 2020 Topps Total #489 Ranger Suarez

Phillies 5, Nationals 2
Game 57 - Saturday Afternoon, June 5th in Philadelphia
Record - 27-30, 3rd Place, 4 games behind the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  Ranger Suarez pitched three scoreless innings in relief and Andrew McCutchen contributed a huge three-run home run in this 5-2 win over the Nationals.

What It Means:  The Phillies will go for the the series win this afternoon with Vince Velasquez getting the start.

What Happened:  Spencer Howard started for the Phillies but again faltered after the first two innings.  Suarez entered in the third and shut down the Nationals, allowing nary a hit over his three innings of work.  With Hector Neris on the paternity list, Connor Brogdon got the ninth inning and recorded his first career save.  McCutchen's big homer came in the fourth inning after Rhys Hoskins had tied the score with an RBI-single.  Bryce Harper added an insurance run with an RBI-single in the eighth.

Featured Card:  Suarez's baseball card output was limited last year to this Topps Total card and a card in the Topps Heritage set.  It will be interesting to see if manager Joe Girardi sticks with his piggy-back practice of having Howard start and Suarez relieve, or if he ultimately just gives Suarez a spot in the rotation.  In 10 games this season, Suarez has pitched 17 1/3 scorelesss innings.

Transaction:  Harper (of) was activated (finally) from the injured list with Neris going on the paternity list.

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