Phils' blunder on bases turns into chaotic game-ending 5-2-6-4 DP for Dodgers

PHILADELPHIA -- Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy had flashbacks on Tuesday night.

He wasn’t the only one.

The Dodgers’ 2-1 victory over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park ended on a wild play that felt like other late-inning finishes between these two teams. Los Angeles won Game 2 of the 2025 National League Division Series at the Bank, when it perfectly executed a wheel play in the ninth inning. A few days later, Orion Kerkering’s misfire in the 11th inning of Game 4 at Dodger Stadium ended the series.

“There’s a lot of talent on both of our teams, so you're going to see a lot of times the games are going to be won by the little things,” Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto said. “And they've just been able to make less mistakes than we have really in our series, and going back to last postseason.”

The Phillies had Realmuto on second and Justin Crawford on third with one out in the ninth. Brandon Marsh stepped into the batter’s box to face Dodgers lefty Tanner Scott. Marsh hit a cue shot toward third base.

Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said the contact play was on, meaning Crawford was supposed to break for home immediately. But Crawford said he was supposed to break for home unless the ball was hit to third.

Crawford hesitated when the ball was hit to Muncy.

But then, Crawford said, he broke home because the ball was hit so softly.

“He didn’t take off right away,” Muncy said. “So I knew I didn’t have to rush myself. Made sure to field it. Wet ball, spinning pretty crazy on that grass, so I just wanted to make sure I secured it. After that, just executed the rundown.”

Muncy threw to catcher Dalton Rushing, who chased Crawford back to third. Rushing flipped the ball to shortstop Mookie Betts for the tag for the second out.

“With contact on,” Mattingly said, “just hoping Craw stays in it long enough to get Marsh to second, and you end up in the same spot.”

But with Crawford retreating toward third, Realmuto, who was already at third base, inexplicably ran to second.

“When I saw J.T. going back, I think that’s like the first time I’ve yelled on the field,” Scott said. “I was like, ‘Mookie, two!’”

Betts threw to Tommy Edman, who tagged out Realmuto at second base to end the game.

“Just a bad baserunning play, really,” Realmuto said. “We were going on seeing it through there, and once Craw gets in the rundown and I'm on third base, there’s no reason for me to go back to second. Just a lack of judgment. You can't make two outs on that play. I’ve just to stay in scoring position.

“Just a lapse in judgment. I thought Crawford could get out of the rundown for some reason. The chances of that are so small, you just can't take that chance there of making two outs on one play.”

Scott couldn’t believe it.

“‘Oh poop, oh poop,’” Scott said. “That was my reaction. I mean, it was just crazy. Two great plays.”

Another exhilarating late-inning victory for the Dodgers. Another painful loss for the Phillies.

“It’s just fundamentals,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Max did a great job securing the baseball, understood the tying run was going home, ran him hard back. To be quite frank, Dalton should have run the player back. He didn’t, but fortunately J.T. made an uncharacteristic baserunning mistake, and fortunately Mookie threw a dart to second base. Big adrenaline, big win, saved some pitches from Tanner. Real fun ballgame to be a part of.”

Said Muncy: “You have to hope that all the work you put in in pregame and just from the start of the season, you kind of hope that kicks in, just instincts. That’s where the experience really matters in those types of situations. With us, we always have a ton of experience out there.”