Ranger Suarez and two relievers combined on a two-hitter, Kody Clemens hit a three-run home run and the visiting Philadelphia Phillies extended their winning streak to seven with a 7-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday.
Suarez (4-0) allowed two hits with one walk and five strikeouts over seven innings. Gregory Soto and Jeff Hoffman followed to seal the opener of the four-game series.
Alec Bohm, Nick Castellanos and Clemens each had two hits for Philadelphia, which has won 15 of its last 21 games to move a season-best seven games over .500.
Suarez has thrown 25 consecutive scoreless innings, which is the longest streak by a Phillies pitcher since Cliff Lee threw 30 2/3 scoreless innings from Aug. 17-Sept. 10, 2011.
Trea Turner extended his hitting streak to 11 games for the Phillies, who led 4-0 before drawing clear on Clemens’ three-run homer in the ninth inning against Casey Legumina.
Philadelphia claimed an early lead in the second inning against Hunter Greene (0-2). Bohm singled with one out, moved to third on Castellanos’ single and scored on Bryson Stott’s sacrifice fly.
The Phillies pushed another run across in the third inning when Johan Rojas delivered a leadoff triple and scored on Kyle Schwarber’s sacrifice fly.
Bohm continued his hot streak with a one-out double in the fourth inning. After Castellanos singled, Bohm scored on Stott’s fielder’s choice.
Bohm is 10-for-22 during his six-game hitting streak for Philadelphia, which extended its lead to 4-0 in the fifth inning on J.T. Realmuto’s one-out RBI double.
After Brandon Marsh walked, Greene escaped further trouble when Bohm grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Greene pitched seven innings, giving up four runs on seven hits while walking two and striking out six.
Philadelphia played without All-Star first baseman Bryce Harper, who was placed on the paternity list before the game. Clemens was called up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to take Harper’s place. Harper could return to the team for the series finale on Thursday afternoon.
