J.T. Realmuto, Justin Crawford explain how Phillies ran into two outs on bases in bizarre game-ending double play - Phillies Nation

What the report says

Phillies Nation reported that Philadelphia’s 2-1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park ended on an unusual baserunning double play involving J.T. Realmuto and rookie Justin Crawford. With the Phillies trailing by one in the bottom of the ninth, they had runners on second and third with one out against Dodgers reliever Tanner Scott when Brandon Marsh hit a soft ball toward shallow third base.

According to the report, Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy caught Crawford too far off third. Crawford, who had entered as a pinch-runner for Alec Bohm, was trapped in a rundown after hesitating rather than returning to the bag. Realmuto advanced to third during the play, but as Crawford was tagged near the base, Realmuto broke back toward second and was also thrown out, ending the game.

Realmuto described the play afterward as a poor baserunning decision and said he wrongly believed Crawford might escape the rundown. Crawford said third-base coach Anthony Contreras had told him to run on contact except on a ball hit to third, and he acknowledged he reacted too late after initially thinking he might be able to score.

The ending mattered because it erased Philadelphia’s best chance to tie the game after Zack Wheeler allowed two runs over seven innings and the Phillies managed only one run against Dodgers starter Justin Wrobleski and the bullpen. Interim manager Don Mattingly also said he considered pinch-hitting for Marsh with right-handed hitter Bryan De La Cruz available, but stayed with Marsh, calling it a decision the team would review.