Bryson Stott delivered the big blow with a three-run homer and Ranger Suárez continued his dominant stretch on the mound as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Miami Marlins 4-2 on Wednesday night at Citizens Bank Park.
Stott launched a first-pitch fastball to straightaway center field in the fourth inning for his fifth homer of the season, capping a four-run outburst off Marlins rookie Adam Mazur (0-1). J.T. Realmuto had opened the scoring in the inning with an RBI single before Stott cleared the bases to give the Phillies a 4-0 lead.
Suárez (6-1) was in command all night, allowing just one run and four hits over seven innings. The left-hander struck out eight and walked two in another strong outing since returning from a back injury that sidelined him early in the season. Since surrendering seven runs in a shaky May 4 season debut against Arizona, Suárez has given up only eight runs total over eight starts — each lasting at least six innings.
Miami’s only dent against Suárez came on a long solo homer from Connor Norby in the fifth, a 415-foot shot to center for his second of the season. Norby’s power was a bright spot in an otherwise quiet night for the Marlins offense.
Mazur, recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville for his major league debut, showed flashes of promise despite the loss. The 23-year-old righty struck out five and allowed five hits across 5 2/3 innings.
Nick Castellanos, returning to the lineup a day after being benched for what manager Rob Thomson called “an inappropriate comment” when he was pulled for a defensive replacement on Monday, responded with a single and a double in the win. Alec Bohm also stayed hot, logging two singles and a double for his second multi-hit effort of the series and sixth in his last nine games.
The Marlins made things interesting in the ninth when Dane Myers delivered an RBI single to cut the deficit to 4-2. Miami had the tying run at the plate with one out, but Phillies reliever Matt Strahm slammed the door by striking out Norby and inducing a flyout from Nick Fortes for his fourth save of the season. Notably, rookie Jack Winkler recorded his first MLB hit off Strahm in the inning.
The Phillies will send lefty Christopher Sánchez (5-2, 3.05 ERA) to the mound in Thursday’s series finale. The Marlins will counter with right-hander Edward Cabrera (2-2, 4.10 ERA).
