Phillies star JT Realmuto makes inexplicable base-running blunder to end the game, leaves manager dumbfounded

Every erstwhile successful a while, a big leaguer looks for illustration a small leaguer connected nan diamond.

Unfortunately for nan Philadelphia Phillies, prima catcher J.T. Realmuto’s Little League-esque blunder ended nan game.

In nan bottommost of nan ninth inning of nan Phillies’ 2-1 nonaccomplishment to nan Los Angeles Dodgers connected Tuesday astatine Citizens Bank Park, nan Phillies had runners connected 2nd and 3rd pinch 1 out.

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Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts tags Philadelphia Phillies' Justin Crawford successful a rundown pinch J.T. Realmuto heading backmost to 2nd guidelines during nan ninth inning of a shot crippled Tuesday, July 21, 2026, successful Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Justin Crawford, who pinch-ran for Alec Bohm, was connected 3rd base, while Realmuto was connected 2nd base. Right fielder Brandon Marsh was up against person Tanner Scott.

Marsh deed a anemic crushed shot to 3rd base, and Crawford started to spell location but stopped aft a fewer steps.

Interim Phillies head Don Mattingly said postgame nan interaction play was on, which intends Crawford was expected to tally location nary matter what. However, Crawford said nan interaction play was connected unless nan shot was deed to 3rd base.

So Crawford, now caught betwixt 3rd guidelines and location plate, sewage successful a rundown. Realmuto ran to 3rd guidelines but inexplicably turned astir to spell backmost to 2nd guidelines erstwhile he saw Crawford tally backmost to 3rd base.

ANGELS THIRD BASEMAN BRINGS BASKETBALL ONTO THE DIAMOND, TURNS SLICK DOUBLE PLAY WITH UNCONVENTIONAL MOVE

Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Tommy Edman reacts aft tagging retired Philadelphia Phillies catcher JT Realmuto successful nan ninth inning astatine Citizens Bank Park successful Philadelphia, Pa., connected July 21, 2026. (Kyle Ross/Imagn Images)

Mookie Betts tagged Crawford retired and past whirled and fired to 2nd baseman Tommy Edman to nab Realmuto going backmost to second, completing a chaotic 5-2-6-4 double play to extremity nan game.

Phillies announcer John Kruk was successful disbelief aft seeing Realmuto tally backmost toward 2nd base.

"Oh no, JT! Oh no," Kruk said.

Realmuto said postgame it was a bad baserunning play.

"Just a bad baserunning play, really," Realmuto told reporters postgame. "We were going connected seeing it done there, and erstwhile (Crawford) gets successful nan rundown and I'm connected 3rd base, there’s nary logic for maine to spell backmost to second. Just a deficiency of judgment. You can't make 2 outs connected that play. I’ve conscionable sewage to enactment successful scoring position."

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Los Angeles Dodgers 2nd baseman Tommy Edman reacts aft getting Philadelphia Phillies' J.T. Realmuto retired astatine 2nd guidelines for nan last retired of a crippled Tuesday, July 21, 2026, successful Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

"Just a lapse successful judgment. I thought Crawford could get retired of nan rundown for immoderate reason. The chances of that are truthful small, you conscionable can't return that chance location of making 2 outs connected 1 play."

Realmuto said he should person played it done successful his caput earlier it happened and been much proactive successful his preparation. Mattingly said he wasn’t judge what his prima catcher was thinking.

"I don’t cognize what JT was reasoning there, honestly, because he sewage to third," Mattingly told reporters postgame.

"With interaction on," Mattingly said, "just hoping (Crawford) stays successful (the rundown) agelong capable to get Marsh to second, and you extremity up successful nan aforesaid spot."

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J.T. Realmuto #10 of nan Philadelphia Phillies looks connected against nan Los Angeles Dodgers astatine Citizens Bank Park connected July 20, 2026, successful Philadelphia, Pa. The Phillies defeated nan Dodgers 10-7. (Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

"I’m not rather judge what he’s thinking. I don’t cognize if he thought that (Crawford) was going to get backmost aliases they were going to fto him get back. It’s thing we’ll talk about."

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The baserunning blunder comes successful nan midst of a down play for Realmuto. The three-time All-Star catcher is hitting conscionable .215 pinch 7 location runs, which good beneath his profession batting mean of .268.

The Phillies (56-46) will look to bounce backmost from nan reliable nonaccomplishment and return nan 3rd crippled of nan three-game group against nan Dodgers (64-38) connected Wednesday astatine 6:40 p.m. ET.

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