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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 J.T. 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 Philadelphia Phillies’ Justin Crawford in a rundown with J.T. Realmuto heading back 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 on third base, while Realmuto was on second base. Right fielder Brandon Marsh was up against closer Tanner Scott.
Marsh hit a weak ground ball to third base, and Crawford started to go home but stopped after a few steps.
Interim Phillies manager Don Mattingly said postgame the contact play was on, which means 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.
So Crawford, now caught between third base and home plate, got in a rundown. Realmuto ran to third base but inexplicably turned around to go back to second base when he saw Crawford run back to third base.
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 Crawford out and then whirled and fired to second baseman Tommy Edman to nab Realmuto going back to second, completing 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 postgame it was a bad baserunning play.
“Just a bad baserunning play, really,” Realmuto told reporters postgame. “We were going on seeing it through there, and once (Crawford) gets in 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’ J.T. 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 rundown for some reason. The chances of that are so small, you just can’t take that chance there of making two outs on one play.”
Realmuto said he should have played it through in his head before it happened and been 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 postgame.
“With contact on,” Mattingly said, “just hoping (Crawford) stays in (the rundown) long enough to get Marsh to second, and you end up in the same spot.”
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J.T. 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 quite sure what he’s thinking. I don’t know if he thought that (Crawford) was going to get back or they were going to let him get back. It’s something we’ll talk about.”
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The baserunning blunder comes in the midst of a down season for Realmuto. The three-time All-Star catcher is hitting just .215 with seven home runs, which well below his career batting 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.
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