CINCINNATI — Ranger Suárez allowed two hits in seven innings and Kody Clemens hit a three-run homer as the Philadelphia Phillies extended their winning streak to seven games with a 7-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds Monday night.
Suárez (4-0) ran his scoreless streak to 25 innings. He's won his last four starts, including a 112-pitch shutout against Colorado last Tuesday. This time, he yielded two singles, struck out five and walked one.
Gregory Soto and Jeff Hoffman completed the two-hitter for Philadelphia's fourth shutout this season, tying Cleveland for most in the majors.
Cincinnati was blanked for the first time.
Philadelphia manager Rob Thomson said after the complete game less than a week ago, he planned to limit Suárez to 80 pitches. The left-hander came out after 88.
“That was a pullback game for Ranger," Thomson said. “He could have kept going, I’m sure. It’s a long year. We want to make sure we’re taking care of him.”
Suárez attributed his string of strong innings to finding the formula for mixing his pitches successfully.
“As always I tried to mix up my pitches, especially my changeup. I don’t throw hard, so those are the things I have to do,” the 28-year-old Venezuelan said through an interpreter. “I have to mix up my pitches so I can get hitters off balance and get the outs.”
Minus slugger Bryce Harper, the Phillies put up runs on sacrifice flies in the second and third, then scored another in the fourth on a groundout.
They added one in the fifth when Kyle Schwarber led off with a walk and came around on J.T. Realmuto's double down the left-field line.
Clemens, promoted from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Monday to play first base when Harper went on paternity leave, homered to right off Casey Legumina in the ninth.
Hunter Greene (0-2) allowed four runs on seven hits and struck out seven in seven innings for the Reds.
“Overall, I thought I pitched well," said Greene, whose fastball velocity was consistently hitting the high 90s. "Did a better job of attacking the zone. I have to do a better job of getting the first guy out. I think that is what threw off those three or four innings.”
Bryson Stott had two RBIs for Philadelphia, which has scored at least seven runs in five straight games.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Reds: RHP Frankie Montas (bruised forearm) was placed on the 15-day injured list after getting hit by a line drive in the first inning Sunday. Legumina was recalled from Triple-A Louisville.
UP NEXT
Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sánchez (1-2, 2.53 ERA) starts Tuesday night against Reds LHP Andrew Abbott (1-2, 2.70).
