BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox may have fallen to 18-25 with a 3-1 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on a rainy Thursday night at Fenway Park, but the real story wasn't the final score. It was the electric return of Ranger Suárez to the mound, where the new Red Sox starter absolutely dominated his former team.

Making his first start back after nearly two weeks on the sidelines with hamstring tightness, Suárez looked like a man on a mission. And why wouldn't he? After spending the first eight seasons of his career with the Phillies, the 30-year-old signed a massive five-year, $140 million deal with Boston this past offseason. Facing his old teammates for the first time, he brought serious heat—literally.

Suárez's velocity was noticeably up across the board. His fastball jumped nearly 1.5 mph in the first two innings alone, and his cutter was up a full 1.4 mph. For any pitcher, that kind of extra zip is a game-changer. For a guy facing his former club for the first time, it was pure adrenaline.

"To be honest with you, it was like a regular game," Suárez said with a shrug. "Obviously I know they were my old teammates, but I wanted to just get deep into the game."

And get deep he did. Suárez retired the first 11 batters he faced before issuing a walk to Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper in the fourth inning. The only real trouble came in the fifth, when a leadoff single from Alec Bohm and back-to-back hits loaded the bases with just one out. But Suárez didn't flinch. He struck out Brandon Marsh, then got Edmundo Sosa swinging before freezing superstar Trea Turner with a called third strike to escape the jam. It was the kind of clutch performance that reminds everyone why Boston invested so heavily in him.

While the Red Sox offense couldn't muster enough support to get him the win, Suárez's return to form is a bright spot in what's been a tough stretch for Boston. For fans looking to rep their favorite pitcher's comeback, there's no better time to grab some Red Sox gear and show your support for the new ace in town.