Entering the 2022 season, it was obvious that the Philadelphia Phillies were playing with fire by fielding an absolutely brutal defense on paper. The Phillies finished last in Major League Baseball in defensive runs saved (DRS) last season at -54. And Philadelphia entered play on Wednesday night at -25 DRS, which again is last in MLB.
On Tuesday night, the defensive issues cost the Phillies in the ninth inning of a wild walk-off loss to the Atlanta Braves. And on Wednesday night, the Philadelphia defense again showed its ugly face during a key moment of another loss to the Braves.
With the game tied 4-4 in the bottom of the fifth inning, Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto blocked a pitch in the dirt, but the ball got far enough away that Atlanta baserunner Dansby Swanson decided to try for second base.
Well, Realmuto’s throw got past second baseman Jean Segura, then got past shortstop Bryson Stott… and then got past center fielder Odubel Herrera. The ball almost made it to the warning track in center field, and Swanson was able to jog home.
The throw was a little high to Segura, and Stott was in a tough spot trying to back up the play, but the Herrera whiff was particularly bad. And it’s just incredible that not even *one* of the three players was able to knock the ball down.
When it rains it pours🌧
Just a rough sequence for the Phillies😅#MLBTwitter
https://t.co/HOBs1S7rCl— SportsGrid (@SportsGrid) May 26, 2022
Never seen that before. Realmuto's throw to second base eludes not one (Segura), not two (Stott), but three (Herrera) players, allowing the Braves to score the go-ahead run. Score it (for now) as a wild pitch, E8.
Wow.
— Scott Lauber (@ScottLauber) May 26, 2022
Yikes.
Oh, and Atlanta’s Austin Riley went on to hit a homer later in that at-bat.
Austin with the power! #ForTheA | @austinriley1308 pic.twitter.com/krpjpDeWo0
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) May 26, 2022
The Braves won 8-4, and the Phillies fall to 20-24 with the loss. Even with a highly talented offense, it’s really hard to have a winning record when you play defense like the Phillies do.
[Photo Credit: Bally Sports South]
