Special to Sports News Highlights

(SNH) — When you do something in baseball only a handful of others have done in 111 years, it gets attention.

Phillies 28-year-old lefty Ranger Suarez has found himself in such rarified air after becoming only the fourth pitcher since 1913 to win nine of his first 10 starts in a season with an ERA under 1.50 and the first to do due it since 1966.

“It’s kind of mind-boggling, this historic run that he’s been on,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said.

Suarez’s nine wins and 66 innings are the most all of MLB while his 1.36 ERA and 2.8 WAR is second only to the Cubs’ Shota Imanaga and his 0.79 WHIP is second to only the Tigers’ Tarik Skubal. His 68 strikeouts is seventh.

Suarez began his season going five innings and giving up three runs on three hits and a walk while striking out seven against Atlanta on March 31. It was his worst start yet.

Since then, he’s only failed to go six full innings once (five innings, two unearned runs, four hits, two walks and three strikeouts against the Mets) and he’s only given up three runs one other time (three runs, on seven hits, one walk, six strikeouts in six innings).

“He knows what it takes to win games,” teammate Bryce Harper said.

He tossed one complete game shutout, allowing seven hits and one walk while striking out eight against Colorado.

“He was getting quick outs, his stuff was really good, and his command was really good,” Thomson said. “We felt like he was going to get deep unless something crazy happened.”

Of course, Suarez can’t do it alone. He’s only a pitcher and needs run support. Something he’s gotten plenty of from the top team in baseball.

Philadelphia has scored at least five runs in each of his 10 starts and the bullpen has only given up eight runs behind him all season.

“I just try to throw and do the best work that I can,” Suárez said.

The Phillies are the only team in baseball with 35 wins (35-14) and their .714 winning percentage is the best. They are 2.5 games ahead of the Yankees for the best record in all of MLB.

It’s only the second time in franchise history the team has won 35 of its first 49 games with 1976 being the other. The team’s 27-6 run in the last 33 is the best since at least 1901.

“They’re pitching well and they’re getting big hits,” Rangers’ manager Bruce Bochy said. “They’re a very good offensive club. They’re one of the best teams in baseball, right now, that’s how well they’re playing.”

Suarez is pitching really well too, but can he keep it up?

The other three who achieved the same nine wins in their first 10 starts to a season with at least a 1.50 ERA were Juan Marichal (1966), Eddie Cicotte (1919) and Cy Falkenberg (1913). Marichal is in the Hall of Fame and Cicotte led the league in wins, but all Falkenberg did with his start was lead the league in wild pitches, so time will tell.

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