Phillies star JT Realmuto makes inexplicable base-running blunder to end the game, leaves manager dumbfounded

Every erstwhile successful a while, a large leaguer looks similar a small leaguer connected the diamond.

Unfortunately for the Philadelphia Phillies, prima catcher J.T. Realmuto’s Little League-esque blunder ended the game.

In the bottommost of the ninth inning of the Phillies’ 2-1 nonaccomplishment to the Los Angeles Dodgers connected Tuesday astatine Citizens Bank Park, the Phillies had runners connected 2nd and 3rd with 1 out.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts tags Philadelphia Phillies' Justin Crawford successful a rundown with J.T. Realmuto heading backmost to 2nd basal during the ninth inning of a shot crippled Tuesday, July 21, 2026, successful Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Justin Crawford, who pinch-ran for Alec Bohm, was connected 3rd base, portion Realmuto was connected 2nd base. Right fielder Brandon Marsh was up against person Tanner Scott.

Marsh deed a anemic crushed shot to 3rd base, and Crawford started to spell location but stopped aft a fewer steps.

Interim Phillies manager Don Mattingly said postgame the interaction play was on, which means Crawford was expected to tally location nary substance what. However, Crawford said the interaction play was connected unless the shot was deed to 3rd base.

So Crawford, present caught betwixt 3rd basal and location plate, got successful a rundown. Realmuto ran to 3rd basal but inexplicably turned astir to spell backmost to 2nd basal erstwhile helium saw Crawford tally backmost to 3rd base.

ANGELS THIRD BASEMAN BRINGS BASKETBALL ONTO THE DIAMOND, TURNS SLICK DOUBLE PLAY WITH UNCONVENTIONAL MOVE

Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Tommy Edman reacts aft tagging retired Philadelphia Phillies catcher JT Realmuto successful the ninth inning astatine Citizens Bank Park successful Philadelphia, Pa., connected July 21, 2026. (Kyle Ross/Imagn Images)

Mookie Betts tagged Crawford retired and past whirled and fired to 2nd baseman Tommy Edman to nab Realmuto going backmost to second, completing a chaotic 5-2-6-4 treble play to extremity the game.

Phillies announcer John Kruk was successful disbelief aft seeing Realmuto tally backmost toward 2nd base.

"Oh no, JT! Oh no," Kruk said.

Realmuto said postgame it was a atrocious baserunning play.

"Just a atrocious baserunning play, really," Realmuto told reporters postgame. "We were going connected seeing it done there, and erstwhile (Crawford) gets successful the rundown and I'm connected 3rd base, there’s nary crushed for maine to spell backmost to second. Just a deficiency of judgment. You can't marque 2 outs connected that play. I’ve conscionable got to enactment successful scoring position."

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

Los Angeles Dodgers 2nd baseman Tommy Edman reacts aft getting Philadelphia Phillies' J.T. Realmuto retired astatine 2nd basal for the last retired of a crippled Tuesday, July 21, 2026, successful Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

"Just a lapse successful judgment. I thought Crawford could get retired of the rundown for immoderate reason. The chances of that are truthful small, you conscionable can't instrumentality that accidental determination of making 2 outs connected 1 play."

Realmuto said helium should person played it done successful his caput earlier it happened and been much proactive successful his preparation. Mattingly said helium wasn’t definite what his prima catcher was thinking.

"I don’t cognize what JT was reasoning there, honestly, due to the fact that helium got to third," Mattingly told reporters postgame.

"With interaction on," Mattingly said, "just hoping (Crawford) stays successful (the rundown) agelong capable to get Marsh to second, and you extremity up successful the aforesaid spot."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

J.T. Realmuto #10 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks connected against the Los Angeles Dodgers astatine Citizens Bank Park connected July 20, 2026, successful Philadelphia, Pa. The Phillies defeated the Dodgers 10-7. (Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

"I’m not rather definite what he’s thinking. I don’t cognize if helium thought that (Crawford) was going to get backmost oregon they were going to fto him get back. It’s thing we’ll speech about."

SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST SPORTS NEWS

The baserunning blunder comes successful the midst of a down play for Realmuto. The three-time All-Star catcher is hitting conscionable .215 with 7 location runs, which good beneath his vocation batting mean of .268.

The Phillies (56-46) volition look to bounce backmost from the pugnacious nonaccomplishment and instrumentality the 3rd crippled of the three-game acceptable against the Dodgers (64-38) connected Wednesday astatine 6:40 p.m. ET.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports sum connected X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.