PHILADELPHIA – The Phillies moved Ranger Suárez from the bullring to the rotation in August because they got a new approach on July 30: Ian Kennedy.
The Phillies believed their six-player deal with Texas on the trade deadline solved a couple of problems. First, he filled two gaps in the rotation with Kyle Gibson and Suarez. Second, they still had a place closer to Kennedy.
But Kennedy has had problems since joining the Phillies. He allowed a two-run, two-run, two-run parallel run against Rockies batsman Ryan McMahon to advance a run to the ninth inning in Thursday night’s 4-3 loss at Citizens Bank Park. Sam Hilliard followed up with an impressive home run to provide an insurance career, which was the difference.
The loss brought the Phillies down 3 1/2 games behind the Braves in the Eastern National League with 22 games to play. If the brave go only 11-12 the rest of the way, they will finish 85-77. The Phillies should go 15-7 to finish ahead.
“It hurts a lot,” Phillies manager Joe Girardi said. “But we can’t change that. We have to go out and play better tomorrow and find a way to combine a streak here. “
But can the Phillies get a role with Kennedy fighting like that in the ninth? He had an ERA of 2.51 and 16 saves on 17 occasions in 32 appearances with Texas, allowing five homers in 32 1/3 innings. He has an ERA of 6.59 and six saves on eight occasions in 14 appearances with the Phillies, allowing him to make six home throws in 13 innings of 2/3.
“Only mistakes in the middle,” Girardi said. “Look at him [0-2] curve ball he threw [to McMahon]. It looks like it’s almost half-and-a-half from where I’m sitting. I find it hard to know where he is, inside and out. But there have only been mistakes on the plate. “
Still, Girardi cast a vote of confidence for Kennedy, who was unable to comment.
“We’ll look at it every day, but I mean, it’s our closest,” Girardi said. “It has also had great savings for us, and some difficult savings for us as well. Just tonight, I mean, I was on a strike away. He pulled out the first two guys and executed throws, and then he didn’t. I don’t think he’s able to do it, because I’ve seen him do it. He just didn’t do it tonight. “
Héctor Neris is a reliever with ultimate experience. He lost his locksmith job earlier this season, but has a 1.23 ERA in 29 appearances since July 4th.
“I have a feeling I need Hector to be able to deploy it when he needs it,” Girardi said. “You have to get to the ninth.”
Kennedy’s ninth spoiled another fantastic effort from Suarez, who allowed five hits, one run and one walk and scored six in six innings. Suarez is 6-4 with a 1.38 ERA in 78 innings this season.
If the ERA looks awesome, it is. Only 42 pitchers in baseball history, including the Black Leagues, have pitched more than 75 innings in a season and posted better than an ERA of 1.38, according to Baseball Reference.
Only 19 pitchers have done so in the last 100 years.
Suarez retired from Saturday’s outing in Miami after five goalless innings. Girardi said then that Suarez had tension in his left triceps. It raised alarms in Philadelphia, but Girardi insisted all week that the fuck was okay.
“I felt much, much better than the last time I was in Miami,” Suarez said. “I felt my arm very, very well. With luck [it’s behind me], with luck. This is what we want. Hopefully, yes, he is behind me and we can keep moving forward and throwing well. “
Bryce Harper hit a solo home run on the left field in the first inning to give the Phillies a 1-0 lead. It was his fourth score in five games, his 17th of the season that tied the game or gave the Phillies the lead, and his 30th overall, as he dedicates himself to the award for the most valuable player in the National League . But the Phillies had just five hits the rest of the way.
So, yes, the Phillies had to do more offense against a team that was only 19 to 50 years old on the road.
But they still had an advantage in the ninth. They were just a strike away.