The Philadelphia Phillies are going to the 2022 World Series after defeating the San Diego Padres in Game 5 of the NLCS on Sunday and they have, in part, one of the strangest bunt calls in recent memory to thank for it.
The Phillies took a 4-3 lead into the ninth inning thanks to a Bryce Harper moonshot in the 8th inning that put them ahead.
Bryce Harper with a 2-run homer to give the Phillies a 4-3 lead in Game 5 of the NLCS! ⚾️💣
"HARPER… THE SWING OF HIS LIFE!"- Joe Davis pic.twitter.com/kAkVVcqJG1
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) October 23, 2022
The Padres came up in the top of the 9th with their season on the line. Wil Myers struck out to start things off but Phillies pitcher David Robertson walked two batters to put the game-winning run on base. He was replaced by Ranger Suárez and Trent Grisham stepped to the plate with a chance to put San Diego back ahead.
Inexplicably, he bunted. While he moved both runners to scoring position, he didn’t get the hit and that meant there were two outs. After that, Aaron Nola popped out to right field and the Phillies wrapped up their trip to the World Series.
THE PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES ARE GOING TO THE WORLD SERIES! ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/sW7CNf6cVg
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) October 23, 2022
There were quite a few strange decisions by Padres manager Bob Melvin on Sunday but the decision to bunt in the ninth inning with one out and two runners on has seriously broken the brains of a lot of MLB fans and media members.
also what was that bunt
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 23, 2022
The decision to bunt there pic.twitter.com/lPGMlsVwfy
— Matt Clapp (@TheBlogfines) October 23, 2022
A sacrifice bunt with one out and the tying runner already in scoring position is certainly a decision
— Blake Harris (@BlakeHHarris) October 23, 2022
OK, whoever's idea was that bunt should be fired before they get back to the clubhouse.
— Dan Szymborski (@DSzymborski) October 23, 2022
The bunt was a worse choice than not bringing in Hader
— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) October 23, 2022
The Padres just had Trent Grisham bunt (or allow him to bunt) with runners on 1st and 2nd and one out trailing by one in the ninth inning of a game that ended their season
That is among the worst on-field things I’ve ever seen in any sport
What in the world
— Danny Abriano (@DannyAbriano) October 23, 2022
San Diego fans will be talking about that bunt for a long time
— Dave (@gggiants) October 23, 2022
…a bunt?
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 23, 2022
That’s gonna be a bunt that people in San Diego talk about for a long time to come.
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.