The numbers will always be a friendly aid to Phillies manager Rob Thomson.
This is, after all, the analytical age of sports and it isn't much different when it comes to running the local baseball team. So when a situation arose in the bottom of the seventh in a 10-4 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, Thomson trusted the books to help him make a decision.
The Phillies had cut the Cubs lead to 7-4 in the eighth when Trea Turner laced an RBI single to score Edmundo Sosa with one out. Kyle Schwarber then singled and, after a Bryce Harper strikeout, Adolis García walked to load the bases. Brandon Marsh — the Phillies best hitter this season, who had a single and a deep fly out earlier in the game — was lifted for pinch-hitter Alec Bohm to face Cubs lefty Caleb Thielbar.
Some numbers here. Left-handers have hit just .206 against Thielbar in a career that spans 10 seasons. Marsh — while hitting .304 this season with four doubles, two home runs and 11 RBIs — is a career .213 hitter against left-handers. He would have gone to the plate with six hits in his last 11 at-bats, so there is that. And Bohm was hitting .155 this year and had just one hit in his last 19 at-bats with six strikeouts. Still, Thomson made the call.
"No, not really," said Thomson when asked if he thought about letting Marsh hit. "Thielbar is pretty tough on lefties so I just went for the matchup. Bohm, the last couple of days, has been swinging the bat better."
Rob Thomson on the decision to pinch hit Alec Bohm for Brandon Marsh
(Via @TimKellySports) pic.twitter.com/N6Qh9wM6Dp
Bohm struck out on four pitches and the boos rained down on the Phillies as they dropped to 8-9 on the season. Sometimes the numbers work for you, sometimes they don't.
Thomson started Sosa for Bohm at third and was rewarded with that decision as Sosa had a three-run home run in the second to give the Phillies a lead they would relinquish over the next few innings. He also had a double in the eighth and made a terrific fielding play to start a double play in the top of the inning. Sosa will also be in the starting lineup on Wednesday at second base.
The Phillies have had a habit lately of scoring runs in one inning and then going silent for many more. That trend was hoped to be broken on Monday when they scored in six different innings during a 13-7 rout of the Cubs. But Tuesday, after scoring three in the second, they went one for their next 17 with five strikeouts and helplessly watched the Cubs build a 7-3 lead through seven.
Zack Wheeler, rehabbing his way back from last year's thoracic syndrome surgery, was promising in another rehab start on Tuesday as he went 5 2/3 innings, allowed four hits and three earned runs while walking none and striking out nine on 72 pitches.
"Very encouraging," said Thomson. "Two of the runs came in after he got out of the ball game. Went through the minimum through five and (threw) 92-95, so he touched 95, so that was good. Said he felt good after the outing. Somebody asked him if he was starting to run out of gas and he said 'No, I felt good, even at the end.' All in all, a good outing and we're still on line for Sunday."
That will be Wheeler's next rehab start. He could come up to the big club after that, but Thomson hinted before the game that one more outing after Sunday could still be in the cards.
Much has been made early this season of the Phillies lack of smart base running, questionable fielding and overall decision-making at times. Tuesday, they were hurt again.
With one out in the sixth, the score tied 3-3 and runners on first and second, reliever Tim Mayza fielded a ground ball off the bat of Dansby Swanson. Mayza's throw to second took Bryson Stott's glove right into the foot of runner Pete Crow-Armstrong. Stott missed the ball for an error, which loaded the bases. Nico Hoerner then singled to drive in two and the Cubs were on their way.
"There's some things that we need to clean up, some fundamental things," admitted Thomson. "Relay plays, fielding bunts, turning double plays. That type of thing. Just take care of the baseball. All those little fundamentals, we've got to do better."
