Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson didn’t hold back after his team’s crushing Game 2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Division Series. Now trailing 0–2 and facing elimination, the Phillies must win both games at Dodger Stadium to keep their season alive.
In the series, Bryce Harper is just 1-for-7 with a walk and three strikeouts, while Kyle Schwarber has gone hitless in seven at-bats with one walk and five strikeouts. The club’s two biggest bats—known for their mix of power and contact—have struggled mightily, and the offense has paid the price.
Following the loss, Thomson directly addressed their issues at the plate. “Yeah, I think those guys are trying to do a little too much right now, instead of just being themselves and looking for base hits and the power will come,” he said.
While Harper and Schwarber have faltered, J.T. Realmuto and Max Kepler have carried the lineup. Realmuto is 3-for-8 with a triple, a double, and two RBIs, and Kepler is 2-for-6 with a double and a triple.
Harper acknowledged the need for improvement after the game. “I wouldn’t say we’re pressing,” he said. “I just think we’re missing pitchers over the plate. They’re making good pitches when they need to. Obviously, I’ve got to do a better job with guys on base. I mean, I had a couple opportunities myself and didn’t get it done. It’s got to be better. We got our work cut out for us. We understand that we’re a good team. Anything can happen in the next couple of days.”
Schwarber echoed a similar sentiment, taking responsibility for his lack of production. “I can speak for myself, I know that I haven’t (performed),” he admitted. “You want to get something going. You want to get anything going. And for me, I just didn’t come through in that situation.”
With their backs against the wall, the Phillies must sweep both games in Los Angeles and win a decisive Game 5 back home to advance to the NLCS. Otherwise, another long offseason awaits in Philadelphia.