Ranger Suárez Returns, But Phillies Drop Extra-Inning Thriller to Diamondbacks
In a dramatic Sunday showdown, Ranger Suárez made his long-awaited season debut for the Philadelphia Phillies—but it wasn’t enough to fend off the Arizona Diamondbacks, who stormed to an 11-9 win in extra innings to close out the weekend series.
Suárez, sidelined with back stiffness since spring, showed signs of rust, surrendering seven runs on seven hits in just 3 2/3 innings. The Diamondbacks capitalized early, jumping to a 7-2 lead by the fifth behind big performances from Geraldo Perdomo and Corbin Carroll, who each drove in three runs. Josh Naylor delivered the dagger in the 10th inning with an RBI single that sparked a three-run burst for Arizona.
Tim Tawa followed with a sacrifice fly, and the insurance run came when Perdomo drew a bases-loaded walk, pushing Arizona ahead 11-8.
Still, the Phillies didn’t go quietly. In the bottom of the 10th, Max Kepler’s sacrifice fly brought home a run, cutting the deficit to 11-9. With two men on, Bryce Harper had a chance to play hero, but he flied out to center, and Kyle Schwarber grounded out to first, ending the rally and the game.
Schwarber, who extended his on-base streak to 40 games, had earlier ignited a ninth-inning rally that tied the game 8-8. After launching his 11th homer of the season, Schwarber watched Nick Castellanos, J.T. Realmuto, and Alec Bohm string together three straight hits to push across the tying run against previously unscored-upon reliever Shelby Miller.
Weston Wilson also delivered a three-run bomb in the sixth, and Harper got things going with a first-inning solo shot. But the Phillies’ bullpen couldn’t contain Arizona’s late push. José Alvarado (3-1) took the loss, while Jalen Beeks earned his first save for Arizona.
Despite the loss, the Phillies (now looking to rebound) have a travel day Monday before opening a three-game set against the Tampa Bay Rays. Zack Wheeler will take the mound Tuesday.
The Diamondbacks, who are now 8-3 in series finales, return to Arizona to begin a home stand against the New York Mets.