You have to point to Ranger Suarez as one of the major reasons the Phillies have had one of the best records in the majors.

Initially overshadowed by Aaron Nola and Zach Wheeler, Suarez has emerged as one of the league’s top hurlers - primarily left-handers - posting a 9-0 record with a 1.36 ERA until he suffered his first loss of the season.

In this week’s version of my Behind the Plate column - investigating past and present trends with the Phillies, Mets and Yankees as well as the overall game - I’ll review some of the Phillies’ top left-handers through the years, and their starts and streaks during their seasons.

Ranger Rustlings ... Suarez’s 9-0 start in the first 50 games was the best in team history.

He surpassed Tommy Greene in 1993, who moved to 8-0 before a loss; Omar Daal went 6-0 in 2001; and Nola staked himself to a 6-0 record in 2109 before he lost.

Suarez’s 1.36 ERA was the lowest of any starter to reach 9-0 since Juan Marichal went 10-0 in 11 starts with a 0.80 ERA in 1966. The right-hander finished with a 25-6, 2.23 slate.

Keeping It Going ... Over the years, there have been a number of pitchers with impressive nine-wins-or-better streaks.

Roger Clemens (twice), Don Newcombe and Jake Arrieta also started a season 9-0.

Dodger great Sandy Koufax pieced together a 10-3 mark from May through July of his 25-5, 1.88 season in 1963.

In 1937, Cleveland’s Johnny Allen went 15-0 before he lost on the final day of the season. Thirty-two years later, the Orioles’ Dave McNally matched the feat with 15 straight in 1969.

Pirates reliver Roy Face went 18-0 before he suffered a September defeat. Face finished the year 18-1 with nine saves and a 2.59 ERA.

Lefties Legacies ... When you think about a Phillies’ left-hander, Steve Carlton and Curt Simmons could easily come to mind depending how long you have been following the Phillies.

In his record 27-10 season in 1972, Carlton got off to a 3-1 start in April, but then went 4-0 with a 2.41 ERA in June (65 strikeouts in 56 innings), and had a 6-0 record with a 1.48 ERA in July.

Carlton won 15 straight from May 30 to Aug. 21. He kept his pace with a 6-2, 1.67 campaign in August, and a 5-2, 1.16 showing in September. His best outing was a one-hitter with 14 strikeouts in a 3-0 victory over the Giants on April 25.

In 1977, Carlton went 23-10, and had a solid April (3-1, 2.94) and May (4-1, 3.06). Three years later when he was 24-9 in 1980, Carlton had a similar script - going 3-1, 2.16 in April and 6-1, 1.66 in May.

Simmons’ best record was 17-8 during the Whiz Kids’ run in 1950. The Whitehall - better yet, Egypt native - was 5-1 with a 4.08 ERA in May, and was 5-0 with a 2.36 ERA in July. Simmons had some other productive seasons, but his 1950 campaign was probably his most consistent over months.

More Phillies’ Portsiders ... Besides Carlton and Simmons, the Phillies have had a few notable left-handers who have accumulated some streaks in their careers.

After Simmons, Chris Short was at the top of the rotation. In 1964, Short went 17-8 and helped the club through a summer spurt, going 4-1 (2.67 ERA) in July and 4-1 (1.91) in August. In 1966, Short posted a 20-10 mark, with his most productive months being June (5-0, 4.15), and August (5-1, 3.95).

How about Cliff Lee? He is best known for his 4-1 mark with a 1.56 ERA in the 2009 postseason. Lee had two of the best pitching months in club history in 2011 when he was 5-0 with a 0.21 ERA in June and a 5-0, 0.45 clip in August for an overall 17-8, 2.40 season. Two years later, Lee was 14-8, 2.88, and mastered May (4-1, 1.80) and June (3-0, 3.02).

Lee’s contributions are often overlooked.

Back in the 1970s, Tommy Underwood was a promising left-hander, and had some highlights in the mid-70s. Underwood came on the scene in 1975 and went 14-13 with 4.15 ERA. He did have a 3-1, 1.13 month of May but struggled with consistency. In 1976, Underwood was a key player in the postseason drive, going 3-0, 2.45 in June and 3-1, 2,76 in August for a final 10-5, 3.54 with two saves season.

Terry Mulholland was a post-Carlton lefty who tossed the first no-hitter at the Vet in August 1990. He was a key player on the 1993 staff when he went 12-9 with a 3.25, putting together a 7-2 run through May and June.

Randy Wolf was a steady mound mason in the early 2000s. His best season, arguably, was 16-10, 4.23 in 2003. He went 2-1 in May and followed with a 4-0 June. You may have forgotten Wolf’s seven other stops over his 16 years at the Dodgers (twice), Astros, Brewers, Orioles, Marlins and Tigers.

Cole Hamels was the 2008 NL Championship Series and World Series MVP, going 2-0, 1.93 in the NLCS, and 1-0, 2.77 in the WS. For the season, Hamels was 14-10, 3.09. In 2012, Hamels went 17-6, 3.05, recording a 5-0 May, 3-1 August, and 3-0 September.

Also in 2008, ageless 45-year-old Jamie Moyer - the oldest player at the time - went 16-7 with a 3.72 early (ERA), but was 9-1 from July through the end of September. Sometimes it’s hard to believe Moyer played 25 seasons, ending with Colorado in 2012.

Anyone remember Danny Jackson and Jim Kaat?

Jackson was acquired from Florida in November 1992, and was 12-11, 3.77 in 1993, but went to 14-6, 3.27 the following season before leaving for free agency. He was a combined 10-2 from April through June.

From the Apple to the Bell ... Jerry Koosman gained his fame with the Mets, especially in their 1969 championship season when he was 17-9, 2.28. Koosman was 16-6 (5-0 in September) from June through September.

In 1984 with the Phils, Koosman was 14-15, 3.25. However, he went 8-1 from June through July.

Kaat’s most productive year of his four-year stay was in 1976 when he was 12-14, 3.48 over 227 innings, but went 5-0 in June.

Leaning Left ... In keeping with the theme, here is my all-lefthanded-hitting Phillies lineup (players who I have seen)

Catcher - Tim McCarver and Darren Daulton, tie.

First base - Ryan Howard (Willie Montanez sentimental favorite).

Second base - Chase Utley (Denny Doyle sentimental favorite).

Third base - Dave Hollins (switch hitter).

Shortstop - Jimmy Rollins and Larry Bowa, tie.

Left field - Raul Ibanez and Johnny Briggs, tie.

Center field - Shane Victorino (switch) and Lenny Dykstra, tie (Richie Ashburn, sentimental favorite).

Right field - Bobby Abreu, Bake McBride, Jay Johnstone, tie (Johnny Callison sentimental favorite).

I’d like to hear your picks.

Time Passages ... Each week, I’ll look back at a memorable game from our past.

On Oct. 2, 1965, Short struck out 18 over 15 innings in what would result in a scoreless tie with the Mets in the second game of a doubleheader and the final game of the season. Short, who scattered nine hits, set a club single-game record for strikeouts.

Gary Wagner, who allowed two hits, and Jack Baldschun finished the game.

Mets’ starter Rob Gardner also went 15 innings, striking out seven and allowing five hits. Darrell Sutherland and Dennis Ribant threw the final innings in the four-hour, twenty-nine-minute marathon for what was left of the announced 10,371 crowd.

Dick Allen went 2-for-7, and future manager Pat Corrales was 0-for-6 for the Phillies, who ended the season at 83-76. Ron Hunt and Jim Hickman had two hits apiece for the Mets, who were 50-110 at the time.

The Phillies were 0-8 with runners in scoring position, and Mets’ shortstop Bud Harrelson had three errors.

Feedback ... Your thoughts are always welcomed at tnsports@tnonline.com