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Every once in a while, a major leaguer looks like a minor leaguer on the diamond.
Unfortunately for the Philadelphia Phillies, a minor league-like mistake by star catcher JT Realmuto ended the game.
In the bottom of the ninth inning of the Phillies’ 2-1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park, the Phillies had runners on second and third with one out.
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Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts tags out Philadelphia Phillies’ Justin Crawford on a rundown with JT Realmuto returning to second base during the ninth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, July 21, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Justin Crawford, who pinch-ran for Alec Bohm, was at third base, while Realmuto was at second base. Right fielder Brandon Marsh was facing closer Tanner Scott.
Marsh hit a weak grounder to third base and Crawford started to go home, but stopped after a few steps.
Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said after the game the contact play was underway, meaning Crawford was supposed to run home no matter what. However, Crawford said the contact play was on unless the ball was hit to third base.
Then Crawford, now trapped between third base and home plate, broke into a run. Realmuto ran toward third base but inexplicably turned around to return to second base when he saw Crawford running back to third base.
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Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Tommy Edman reacts after throwing out Philadelphia Phillies catcher JT Realmuto in the ninth inning at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 21, 2026. (Kyle Ross/Image Images)
Mookie Betts threw out Crawford and then turned and fired to second baseman Tommy Edman to catch Realmuto and return to second, completing a chaotic 5-2-6-4 double play to end the game.
Phillies announcer John Kruk was in disbelief after watching Realmuto run back to second base.
“Oh no, JT! Oh no,” Kruk said.
Realmuto said after the game that it was a bad play to run the bases.
“Actually, it was just a bad baserunning play,” Realmuto told reporters after the game. “We were going down to the wire, and once (Crawford) goes into the drill and I’m on third base, there’s no reason for me to go back to second. It’s just poor judgment. You can’t make two outs on that play. I just have to stay in scoring position.”
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Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Tommy Edman reacts after throwing out Philadelphia Phillies’ JT Realmuto at second base for the final out of a game Tuesday, July 21, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
“Just an error in judgment. I thought Crawford might go off the roster for some reason. The chances of that happening are so small, you just can’t take the risk of making two outs on one play.”
Realmuto said he should have thought about it before it happened and been more proactive in his preparation. Mattingly said he wasn’t sure what his star receiver was thinking.
“Honestly, I don’t know what JT was thinking there, because he got to third,” Mattingly told reporters after the game.
“With contact on,” Mattingly said, “I just hope (Crawford) stays in (the summary) long enough to push Marsh into second, and you end up in the same spot.”
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JT Realmuto #10 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citizens Bank Park on July 20, 2026, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Dodgers 10-7. (Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
“I’m not really sure what he’s thinking. I don’t know if he thought (Crawford) was going to come back or that they were going to let him come back. It’s something we’ll talk about.”
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The baserunning mistake comes in the middle of a poor season for Realmuto. The three-time All-Star catcher is hitting just .215 with seven home runs, well below his career batting average of .268.
The Phillies (56-46) will look to bounce back from the tough loss and win Game 3 of the three-game series against the Dodgers (64-38) on Wednesday at 6:40 p.m. ET.
