Thursday, April 25, 2024

Game 23 - Offense Supports Ranger's Gem

2023 Topps Chrome #135
Phillies 7
, Reds 0
Game 23 - Monday Night, April 22nd in Cincinnati
Record - 15-8, 2nd Place, 1 game behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  Ranger Suarez continued his pitching dominance with seven more scoreless innings and the Phillies offense gave him plenty of support in this 7-0 win.

What It Means:  A busy week at work coupled with our oldest son's relentless high school baseball schedule means I'm once again playing catch up.  This game would mark the apex of a seven-game winning streak, putting the Phillies just a game behind the Braves in the division.

What Happened:  Suarez picked up his fourth win, allowing only two hits and striking out five.  His ERA dropped to a fantastic 1.36.  Gregory Soto and Jeff Hoffman closed it out, striking out four over the final two innings.

The Phillies scored runs in each of the second through fifth innings.  Bryson Stott and Kyle Schwarber delivered sacrifice flies, Stott grounded into a force out and J.T. Realmuto delivered an RBI double to put the Phillies up 4-0.

Featured Card:  Kody Clemens, making his season debut, accounted for the final three runs with a three-run home run in the ninth.  He had also doubled earlier in the game.  I was surprised to see him in the Topps Chrome set last year, as he didn't make it into the Topps Update set.  This is his one and only mainstream card with the Phillies so far in my collection, although he did appear on a Topps Now card last year too.

Transaction:  Bryce Harper (1b) was placed on the paternity list and Clemens (1b) was recalled from Lehigh Valley for the short-term assignment.

No comments: