Red Sox’ Chad Tracy explains decision to remove Ranger Suarez at 76 pitches

BOSTON — Red Sox starter Ranger Suarez, facing his former team for the first time since joining Boston, threw 5 ⅓ scoreless innings against the Phillies on Thursday.

Suarez struck out eight while allowing just four hits and one walk in the Red Sox’ 3-1 loss to the Phillies at Fenway Park.

The 30-year-old lefty appeared to be in cruise control. So why did interim manager Chad Tracy remove him at just 76 pitches in a scoreless game?

Tracy replaced Suarez with righty reliever Justin Slaten with a runner at first base and one out in the sixth. Bryce Harper had just singled off Suarez.

“We had felt like even prior to that last inning he was starting to fatigue a little bit,” Tracy explained. “And based on the fact that he hadn’t thrown in 11, 12 days, it felt like that was the right time to cut it.”

It was Suarez’s first outing since being removed from his start May 3 against the Astros due to right hamstring tightness.

He said he knew his pitch count would be limited vs. the Phillies after having thrown just four innings 11 days ago against Houston.

“They didn’t tell me anything (before the start) but I kind of knew because of the days that I was out and the previous outing was only 70 pitches,” Suarez said through translator Carlos Villoria Benítez. “So I kind of knew that it was around 75, 80 pitches and that I had today.”

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