Overview
- The Phillies fell 6-5 to the Houston Astros on Tuesday night after Brandon Marsh was doubled off second when he broke for third on a J.T. Realmuto liner and Edmundo Sosa watched a ninth-inning double instead of running for third.
- Interim manager Don Mattingly publicly called out the mistakes and said baserunning has “gone a little backwards,” urging players to follow the rule to freeze or go back on liners to the infield.
- Starter Andrew Painter had an uncharacteristic outing, allowing five runs on 10 hits over five innings, which put Philadelphia behind and increased the importance of late rally opportunities.
- Marsh’s play was his fourth baserunning out this season and the team has 35 outs on the bases, a mark reported as below league average that reporters and analysts say has cost the club runs.
- The loss tightened an already close wild-card chase and could prompt the Phillies to emphasize basic baserunning work in practice as they try to avoid small errors deciding late-season games.