Looking for a spark for their struggling offense, the Philadelphia Phillies decided to bench All-Star third baseman Alec Bohm for Game 2 of the NL Division Series.
Bohm is healthy but has been having a tough time, going 0 for 4 in a 6-2 loss to the New York Mets in Game 1. He showed his frustration by slamming his helmet after yet another unsuccessful at-bat.
Edmundo Sosa started at third base on Sunday against Mets pitcher Luis Severino.
“I wanted to get some energy in the lineup with Sosa; he’s kind of our energy guy,” manager Rob Thomson said before Game 2. “Bohm’s not swinging the bat particularly well, but he’s not the only one. He’s frustrated. But I just wanted to get Sosa in there.”
With the Phillies down 4-3 in the seventh inning, Bohm came in to pinch-hit for Sosa with one out and a runner on first base. Bohm popped up to third base against right-hander José Buttó.
This season, Bohm hit .280 with 15 home runs, 97 RBIs, and 44 doubles, but he struggled towards the end. He finished the regular season in a slump, going 2 for 27, and in a very small sample size, he is 0 for 3 against Severino.
In his career, Bohm has a postseason batting average of .222 (24 for 108), with two home runs and 14 RBIs in 31 games.
Sosa had a batting average of .257 with seven home runs and 31 RBIs over 90 games this season.
“He goes out there and he runs around,” Thomson said. “And I think he energizes other people, as well, and that’s what we need.”
However, the Phillies need more than just an energy boost.
They need their expensive lineup to start producing hits. All-Star shortstop Trea Turner has struggled the most, going 0 for 16 in the playoffs since Game 5 of last season’s NL Championship Series against Arizona.
