Alec Bohm, who recently made his All-Star Game debut, recorded 97 RBIs and ranked second in the National League with 44 doubles, found himself benched for Game 2 of the NL Division Series. Phillies manager Rob Thomson opted to replace Bohm with Edmundo Sosa, citing the need for a spark in the lineup.
Thomson expressed his reasoning for the decision, noting, “He’s scuffling a little bit. It’s not like there aren’t other guys scuffling a little bit. I just want to get some energy into the lineup. Sosa’s kind of our energy guy, run around and do some things, maybe create some things.”
Bohm ended the regular season in a 2-for-27 slump and did not perform well in Game 1, going 0-for-4 with a series of weak at-bats, leading him to show visible frustration by slamming his helmet after a groundout that left runners stranded on the corners.
Thomson acknowledged Bohm’s frustrations but urged him to remain focused: “He is frustrated and I get it, but you’ve got to keep playing.” Bohm previously missed over two weeks due to a left hand strain but has not indicated any ongoing issues since his return.
The manager communicated with Bohm via text and discussed his role as a potential pinch-hitter for the upcoming games, emphasizing his confidence in Bohm’s abilities: “He’s actually a really good pinch-hitter… I expect him to hit every day because he’s a really good hitter.”
Despite the recent struggles, Thomson typically avoids making abrupt lineup changes, especially with the team facing the risk of elimination. He concluded, “We need to eliminate some of that chase we saw yesterday, that’s for sure. I hope it is in their heads. You’ve got to adjust. They get it, they understand it.”