Fans are pointing to one key decision that may have torpedoed the Philadelphia Phillies’ chances of winning their NLDS matchup against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Phillies trailed the Dodgers 4-1 in Game 2 entering the bottom of the ninth inning at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pa. After a quiet first eight innings, the Phillies’ bats finally woke up against Dodgers reliever Blake Treinen.
Alec Bohm led off the inning with a single up the middle. J.T. Realmuto followed up with a double down the left-field line that pushed Bohm to third. Nick Castellanos drove both of them in with another hit that landed at virtually the same spot. The veteran outfielder hustled to stretch the play to a double, just barely evading the tag from Dodgers second baseman Tommy Edman.
NICK CASTELLANOS MAKES IT A ONE-RUN GAME IN THE 9TH#NLDS pic.twitter.com/fr4W9uPoLM
— MLB (@MLB) October 7, 2025
Bryson Stott came up to the plate with Castellanos in scoring position. But instead of giving Stott a chance to bat for a hit, Phillies manager Rob Thomson had Stott lay down a bunt. The play came back to bite the Phillies as third baseman Max Muncy gunned down the lead runner at third base.
Bryson Stott bunts and the Dodgers get the lead runner! pic.twitter.com/AuwfTicb7u
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 7, 2025
Harrison Bader hit a single on the ensuing at-bat, but a couple of quick outs from Max Kepler and Trea Turned spoiled the Phillies’ comeback effort.
Phillies fans were fuming on social media about Thomson’s decision to have Stott bunt. The Ringer’s Sheil Kapadia labeled the move as “managerial malpractice,” while other fans called for Thomson’s firing.
That decision to bunt Stott is as furious as I've been about any Topper managerial decision during this four-year run.
— Sheil Kapadia (@SheilKapadia) October 7, 2025
You're not playing for one run there. You're losing! It's the year 2025 – you cannot bunt in that spot. Managerial malpractice.
that Stott bunt literally cost us the season I want to die
— Philly Sports Sufferer (@mccrystal_alex) October 7, 2025
Rob Thompson should have been fired after 2022.
— Covers Club Chris (@CoversClubChris) October 7, 2025
Every playoff decision he makes is the wrong one, even when he actually decides to bunt.
If one good thing comes from this @Phillies collapse, it will be his termination.
Phillies manager needs to be insta-fired for that bunt call
— Juice🧃 (@Jakes__Juice) October 7, 2025
The Phillies began the inning with three straight hits against a Dodgers bullpen that has had several screwups this season. Philly had three chances to get at least one more to tie the game and force extra innings.
Instead, the Dodgers got a free out and escaped Citizens Bank Park with a 2-0 lead over a reeling Phillies squad.
