Don’t Tell Topper: Ranger Suarez forgot his glove, had to borrow one from Christopher Sanchez

One mistake. That’s all it took. On a humid Tuesday night in Houston, two first-place teams squared off behind two of the best lefties in baseball. Ranger Suárez vs. Framber Valdez. And for nearly eight full innings, neither blinked.

Then came pitch No. 98 for Ranger Suarez

Ranger wanted it up-and-in. His cutter leaked over the plate. Cooper Hummel, who isn’t even sniffing the Mendoza Line with a .158 career batting average, went the other way with it and deposited a solo shot into the bullpen in right-center.

“You can’t miss pitches at this level,” Suárez said afterward. “And I paid for it.”

Astros blank Phillies after Hummel’s late homer, a wasted gem from Ranger Suárez

Ballgame. Phillies lose 1-0.

That’s the truth, brother. What’s also true is that Ranger Suárez shoved. Again.

He tossed 7 2/3 innings, gave up just four hits, struck out seven, and kept Houston off the board until Hummel’s miracle poke. His ERA is down to 2.08.

Ranger Suarez has allowed one multi-run outing over his last nine starts.

That’s Cy Young territory. Just to make things more ridiculous, Suárez made two highlight-reel plays on comebackers without his own glove.

Lol nothing fazes this man@Toyota x #RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/dW9gsDbDkd

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) June 25, 2025

He forgot his Rawlings in Philly and borrowed Cristopher Sánchez’s Wilson model. Didn’t matter. He caught a liner from Jose Altuve and turned a double play, then snagged another rocket from Cam Smith.

Ranger Suarez forgot his glove in Philly, borrowed from Cristopher Sanchez

“Both plays were really tough and I got scared on both,” Suárez joked. “One was to the crotch, the next to the face.”

Ranger Ball. That’s just what he does.

The Phillies offense was another story. They had plenty of chances against Valdez but never cashed in. Two on with two outs in the first. Two on with nobody out in the second. Leadoff runner in the third. More traffic in the fourth and sixth. All of it stranded.

I guess that’s what happens when you have Buddy Kennedy and Johan Rojas in the lineup but I have spent way too much time reminding everyone how bad our outfield situation is at the moment so I’ll save that rant for later.

Unfortunately, Valdez just continues to own the Phillies. He’s now faced them five times, including twice in the 2022 World Series and has given up five total runs. Tuesday night was more of the same. Seven innings. Zero runs. Four hits. No problem.

This was the kind of game that feels like a playoff preview. Two horses dealing, one swing decides it. A beautiful pitcher’s duel. Just a brutal result.

Still, Ranger Suárez is doing everything the Phillies could ask for and then some. He’s a legitimate ace, a quiet assassin, and as it turns out, a magician with borrowed gloves.

Free agency looms this winter for both Suárez and Valdez. Valdez has the track record. Suárez is making his case with every outing.

The Phillies better be ready to open the checkbook, even more so with the uncertainty surrounding guys like Aaron Nola, Mick Abel, and Andrew Painter. Mix in Zack Wheeler’s retirement after 2027 and one of the deepest rotations in baseball all of the sudden doesn’t look that deep anymore.

Until then, last night was just a reminder that Ranger Suarez is elite. Up Next for the Phillies Zack Wheeler (7-2, 2.81 ERA) gets the ball Wednesday night as the Phillies look to even the series. He’ll face Colton Gordon (2-1, 4.54 ERA).

Maybe someone on this offense would like to wake up before then.

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