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Every once in a while a big leaguer looks like a little leaguer on the diamond.
Unfortunately for the Philadelphia Phillies, star catcher JT Realmuto’s Little League-esque blunder 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 in a bunt with JT Realmuto on his way back to second base during the ninth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, July 21, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Justin Crawford, pinch-running for Alec Bohm, was on third base while Realmuto was on second base. Right fielder Brandon Marsh was up against closer Tanner Scott.
Marsh hit a weak ball to third base and Crawford started to walk home but stopped after a few steps.
Interim Phillies manager Don Mattingly said the contact play was on after the game, meaning Crawford was going to hit a home run no matter what. However, Crawford said the contact play was on unless the ball was hit to third base.
So Crawford, now trapped between third base and home plate, went into a slump. Realmuto ran to third base, but inexplicably turned to go back to second base when he saw Crawford running back to third base.
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Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Tommy Edman reacts after tagging out Philadelphia Phillies catcher JT Realmuto in the ninth inning at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pa., on July 21, 2026. (Kyle Ross/Imagn Images)
Mookie Betts tagged out Crawford and then whirled and fired to second baseman Tommy Edman to pinch Realmuto back to second and complete a chaotic 5-2-6-4 double play to end the game.
Phillies announcer John Kruk was in disbelief after seeing Realmuto run back toward second base.
“Oh no, JT! Oh no,” Kruk said.
Realmuto said after the game that it was a poor baserunning game.
“Just a bad baserunning game, really,” Realmuto told reporters after the game. “We continued to see it through there and once (Crawford) gets into 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 got to stay in scoring position.”
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Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Tommy Edman reacts after getting Philadelphia Phillies’ JT Realmuto out at second base for the final out of a game Tuesday, July 21, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
“Just a lapse in judgment. I thought Crawford could get out of the slump for some reason. The odds of that are so slim, you just can’t take that chance to make two outs on a play.”
Realmuto said he should have played it through in his head before it happened and be more proactive in his preparation. Mattingly said he wasn’t sure what his star catcher was thinking.
“I don’t know what JT was thinking there, honestly, because he got to third,” Mattingly told reporters after the game.
“With contact on,” Mattingly said, “just hope (Crawford) stays in (the cut) long enough to get Marsh at 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, Pa. 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 they were going to let him come back. That’s something we’ll talk about.”
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The basic blunder comes amid a down season for Realmuto. The three-time All-Star catcher is hitting just .215 with seven home runs, well below his career average of .268.
The Phillies (56-46) will look to bounce back from the tough loss and take the third game of the three-game set against the Dodgers (64-38) on Wednesday at 6:40 p.m. ET.
