Phillies beat Cardinals 6-1 for eighth straight home win after Suarez left early with injury

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Spencer Turnbull struck out six in three scoreless innings after substituting injured starter Ranger Suárez and Bryce Harper homered to lead the Philadelphia Phillies to their eighth straight home win with a 6-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday night.

Suarez, who entered the game tied for the major league lead with nine wins, emerged with a bruise on his left hand after being drilled by a 106.1 mph liner off Alec Burleson’s bat in the second inning. The x-rays were negative.

“Everything is fine,” Suárez said through an interpreter. “I have to thank God for this.”

The left-hander said the ball hit him in the part of his thumb that is more muscle than bone. There is swelling and he said he would know in a couple of days if he will be able to make his next scheduled outing.

“I’m glad to see he’s okay and I hope he gets better soon,” Harper said.

Alec Bohm drove in two runs for the Phillies, who have the best record in the majors at 41-18.

After being hit, Suárez picked up the ball and threw to first for the final out and then immediately grimaced. Suárez stuck his face in his glove, walked to the dugout and then returned to the clubhouse after retiring all six batters he faced, striking out two.

“As soon as the ball hit me, I knew I wasn’t going to be able to continue,” he said, before joking. “I need to improve my throwing so that doesn’t happen again.”

Suárez has been throwing well. He entered play Saturday second in the National League in ERA (1.75), first in opponents’ batting average (.171), first in WHIP (0.82) and sixth in strikeouts (77).

“Ranger has been our horse,” Harper said.

Masyn Winn drove in the only run for the Cardinals, who had gotten back to .500 entering this three-game series after winning 12 of 15 before losing the opener Friday night.

Philadelphia will look for its third straight sweep in a three-game home series on Sunday night. The Phillies played in front of another sold-out crowd on Saturday, this time 44,668.

“Being in this stadium, there’s nothing like it,” Harper said.

Turnbull (3-0), who began the season in the rotation while Taijuan Walker was out with a shoulder injury, did not allow a hit and retired nine of 10 batters, with the lone runner reaching on an error.

“Tremendous,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said.

Harper extended Philadelphia’s lead in the seventh inning with a two-run, two-out, 415-foot drive into the second deck in right field off John King. He had the 14th home run and 44th RBI for the two-time MVP.

“He’s a superstar,” Thomson said. “I’m very happy that she is in this club.”

Philadelphia jumped ahead with three runs in the first against Sonny Gray (7-3). Bohm’s major league-leading 23rd double scored a pair of runs, and Nick Castellanos made it 3-0 with a two-out double to score Bohm.

Gray left after allowing four runs on five hits in five innings with 10 strikeouts and three walks.

St. Louis scored its only run in the third on rookie Winn’s sacrifice fly off José Ruiz.

Phillies relievers Orion Kerkering, Seranthony Dominguez and Gregory Soto followed Turnbull with three scoreless innings.

“It’s a good bullpen,” St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol said. “All those guys do a really good job. Those are good weapons. They are effective. “It’s a tough at-bat.”

COACH ROOM

Phillies: Claimed RHP Freddy Tarnok off waivers from Oakland and transferred RHP Dylan Covey (right shoulder strain) to the 60-day disabled list.

UNTIL NEXT TIME

Walker (3-1, 5.51) opposes Cardinals RHP Lance Lynn (2-3, 3.45) in the finale of the three-game set Sunday night.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb