PHILADELPHIA — Phillies manager Rob Thomson made a surprise lineup change for Game 2 of the National League Division Series Sunday, sitting Alec Bohm and starting Edmundo Sosa.
Sosa was penciled in at third base, batting eighth. Bryson Stott rose into the fifth spot in the lineup vacated by Bohm. After just two hits in the first seven innings, both by Kyle Schwarber, in Saturday’s 6-2 Game 1 loss, Thomson sought a spark. He found it at the expense of the struggling Bohm.
“I want to get some energy in the lineup with Sosa,” Thomson said. “He’s kind of our energy guy. Bohmer’s not swinging the bat particularly well, but he’s not the only one. He’s frustrated. But I just want to get Sosa in.”
Bohm went 0-for-4 Saturday. Since coming off the injured list on Sept. 15 due to a hand strain, he batted .170 (8-for-47). Four of his hits came in one game, Sept. 20 against the Mets.
The National League All-Star starter at third base hit .251 with just four homers in 49 games after the break. He has hit just .231 the last two postseasons with two homers and 14 RBIs in 31 games. Bohm is 0-for-3 career against Game 2 starter Luis Severino.
Sosa hasn’t exactly lit it up since returning from the injured list on Sept. 17 with back spasms. He batted .167 down the stretch. He finished the season with a .257/.313/.422 slash line, seven homers and 31 RBIs in 90 games, including a stellar stretch replacing an injured Trea Turner at shortstop in the spring.
Sosa is 2-for-9 with a double and two RBIs in 14 appearances in the playoffs the last two seasons. Sosa has never faced Severino.
Thomson said Bohm will be back in the lineup for Game 3.
“He’ll be in there (Tuesday) with the lefty on the mound, for sure,” Thomson said. “And I expect him to hit. I expect him to hit every day, because he’s a really good hitter.”
Sosa was a safe bet to start one of the games in New York, the Mets likely to follow with left-handed starters Jose Quintana and Sean Manaea, though that was likely in place of Stott in the more obvious infield platoon.
The hope between now and then is that Sosa’s spark in Game 2 can ensure that those aren’t both elimination games.
“He’s a guy that, with one swing of the bat, can change a game, either with his speed or with his power,” Thomson said. “But I think anytime that you come off tough loss like that, I think a little energy helps.”
As far as what this move might signal more broadly, as a potential hint at the dreaded p-word, “panic,” Thomson demurred.
“As far as a wakeup call, no, not really. I think these guys are well aware of what needs to be done,” he said. “I don’t think they need a wakeup call.”
