Following a devastating loss that wasted a dazzling start from Zack Wheeler and a titanic leadoff home run from Kyle Schwarber, Phillies manager Rob Thomson will try to bring a jolt to his team in Game 2 of the National League Division Series.
Philadelphia will start reserve infielder Edmundo Sosa at third base in place of struggling All-Star Alec Bohm for Sunday afternoon’s matchup against the New York Mets. Bohm went 0-for-4 as the Phillies dropped Game 1 of this best-of-five series.
“I wanted to get some energy in the lineup with Sosa,” Thomson explained. “He’s kind of our energy guy. Bohmer, he’s not swinging back particularly well, but he’s not the only one. He’s frustrated, but I just want to get Sosa in there.”
Sosa, a hard-hacking right-handed hitter, will bat in the No. 8 hole against Mets starter Luis Severino. He’s a defensive upgrade at third over Bohm and provides some speed and pop. He’s athletic and animated, and Thomson hopes he can spark a Phillies’ offense that looked lethargic after Schwarber’s blast.
“He goes out there and he runs around, and I think he energizes other people as well,” Thomson said. “That’s what we need.”
The move was a bit of a stunner. Bohm had started in every single playoff game for the Phillies since they returned to the postseason in 2022. He’s been a staple in the middle of Philadelphia’s batting order throughout this year, hitting .280/.332/.448 with 15 home runs and 44 doubles. But his production has dipped late in the season. He batted just .170 in September and slammed his helmet into the ground after his final at-bat on Saturday.
“I know he’s frustrated, because he wants to produce,” Thomson said. “And he’s a professional, so he is frustrated. It’s just one of those things.”
It’s certainly not ideal for the Phillies to be in need of such a spark in only their second game of the postseason, playing in front of their home crowd in South Philadelphia. It’s understandable, but also a bit uncharacteristic of the steady Thomson to sit a regular in this sort of situation.
The manager maintained that it wasn’t a panic move or a wake-up call for his team, simply a lift for the lineup after a disappointing game. He isn’t concerned with how others interpret the decision either.
“I don’t really worry about what other people think or see,” he said. “I do what I think is the best thing for the ball club on a daily basis. And as far as a wake-up call, no, not really. I think these guys are well aware of what needs to be done. I don’t think they need a wake-up call, for sure.”
Bohm’s benching will not be permanent. Thomson said he will return to the lineup for Tuesday’s Game 3 at Citi Field with left-hander Sean Manaea on the mound for New York. But in the meantime, Sosa will get his chance to impact the series.
The 28-year-old utility infielder slashed .257/.313/.422 with seven home runs and 12 doubles in 90 games for the Phillies this season. He hits the ball hard. He’s been a helpful part-time player since coming to Philadelphia in a trade with the Cardinals in 2022.
Sosa has some serious postseason experience as well. He started the NL Wild Card Game for St. Louis in 2021, then platooned with Bryson Stott at shortstop during the Phillies’ run to the World Series the next year.
He does have some serious swing-and-miss potential at the plate, which is the biggest downside to Sosa’s game. Thomson continued to emphasize the Phillies’ need to improve their at-bats and plate discipline after Game 1. And if that’s all it comes down to, Sosa is not the guy for the job. He had a 40.5% chase rate this season and is an extremely aggressive hitter.
Taking all that into account, Thomson still felt that it was right to insert a high-energy player like Sosa as the Phillies look to bounce back in Game 2.
“I think so, after last night,” Thomson said. “And I think he’s a guy that, with one swing of the bat, can change a game, either with his speed or with his power. But I think any time you come off a tough loss like that, I think a little energy helps.”
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