CINCINNATI – In the latest round of health updates on his team, manager Rob Thomson didn’t shed much light at all on whether anything is wrong with starter Ranger Suárez.
In his Tuesday start, the lefthander got tagged for 10 hits and six earned runs during his 5.1 innings of work. It continued an alarming stretch for Suárez, who has compiled a 6.11 earned run average over his last six outings, which amounts to 35 1/3 innings.
“I haven’t talked to him today,” said Thomson. “We’re going to meet with him after we’re done here (pregame meeting with media). Just see how he’s doing, how he’s feeling. He hasn’t said anything to the trainers yet.”
Suárez said often after his outing Tuesday that he felt fine and that there is nothing physically wrong with him at this time. He did complain of back and shoulder pain after a start in Atlanta back in late June, but reiterated after his most recent start that he feels way better than he did back then.
With Aaron Nola seemingly ready to get back to the big club following his rehab, things could be changing quickly. Tuesday, Nola went 5 2/3 innings and allowed four hits and two earned run in his 84 pitches. He struck out 11, including striking out the side three times.
“Well, he’s feeling good,” Thomson said. “I haven’t talked to him but he told Paul (Buchheit, head athletic trainer) that he’s feeling good. He was going to work out today in Lehigh and then meet us in Washington.”
Low voltage offense
The Phillies have been battling against a little bit of a power outage early in games recently, but it seems to be just another one of those things that happen in the game of baseball.
Tuesday against the Cincinnati Reds, the Phillies didn’t get their first hit until the fifth inning when Nick Castellanos hit a bouncer to short that got past Elly De La Cruz and was ruled a hit.
Monday, they also didn’t get their first hit until the fifth inning. That followed two games in Texas against the Rangers in which the first hits didn’t come until the fourth and third innings.
Thomson had no explanation when asked about it, as he shrugged his shoulders and said, “I hope we score five runs in the first tomorrow.”
The wanted man
The Cincinnati Reds organization put on a full court press these past few days, the likes of which would make the 76ers jealous.
Their aim? Kyle Schwarber.
Tuesday, before the Phillies 6-1 loss to the Reds, there was…