Ranger Suárez delivered a masterful performance on the mound, striking out 10 batters over seven dominant innings to propel the Philadelphia Phillies to their MLB-leading 35th victory on Tuesday night.
In a commanding 5-2 win over the defending World Series champions, the Texas Rangers, Suárez showcased why he remains undefeated with a stellar 9-0 record and a sub 1.50 ERA.
According to FanGraphs, he's just the 16th pitcher all-time to start a season 9-0 or better in 10 starts or fewer, and only the fourth in the last 45 years. Suárez's remarkable season-opening run places him in esteemed company, rivaling the legendary Grover Alexander and Juan Marichal among the best in baseball history.
His impressive outing was complemented by Bryce Harper's 11th home run of the season.
The Phillies are now 27-6 over their last 33 games.
Suárez's performance has been nothing short of extraordinary, boasting an ERA of 1.36, which ranks among the lowest in Phillies history for a pitcher's first 10 starts of a season.
Despite a brief setback early in the game, Suárez and the Phillies quickly rebounded, seizing control with clutch hits from Kyle Schwarber and Alec Bohm.
Harper's towering home run in the sixth inning further solidified the Phillies' lead, paving the way for their eventual victory.
The two clubs resume their three-game set on Wednesday.
