PHILADELPHIA — — Alec Bohm might find it easier in Philadelphia to make up for mistakes on the court than with his mouth.
The three E-5s were nothing compared to an F-bomb he dropped in frustration.
Lip readers went wild when cameras caught Bohm choosing words after his second mistake.
“I (expletive) hate this place,” he said.
Perhaps a rally he sparked with a first march — and admitting his mistake — assuaged some grudges.
JT Realmuto hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning and Rhys Hoskins and Didi Gregorius followed with braces that helped the Philadelphia Phillies edge past the New York Mets 5-4 on Monday night.
The Phillies trailed 4-0 before scoring five runs in the eighth against two Mets relievers. Realmuto’s first home run of the season deep into the left field seats made it 4-3. Hoskins ripped an equal double left from Seth Lugo (0-1), and Gregorius lined one up into the right center gap for a 5-4 lead.
Bohm made three errors at third base in the first three innings, a bad look as he tried to win the third base position against rookie Bryson Stott. Edge after this defensive disaster: Stott.
Bohm said “emotions got the better of me” and meant no offense to the franchise or Philadelphia.
“I said it. Do I mean it? No,” Bohm said. “It’s a frustrating night for me, obviously. fans, they just want to win. You heard it, we’re coming back, they’re great. I’m just sorry for them. I don’t mean that.
Bohm made his first mistake in the first when he loaded a ball that shot starter Ranger Suarez’s glove and made a wild handgun throw that sailed into right field. His second mistake was in the second, a routine ground ball he threw at first baseman Rhys Hoskins and into foul territory. Bohm completed the trifecta in the third on a wide throw that knocked Hoskins out of the bag.
“I think he was a kid who was frustrated,” Phillies manager Joe Girardi said. “I don’t think that kid was referring to, you know, the city of Philadelphia, the fans. I think he was referring to the situation he was in. Put yourself in his place.
The Mets, however, didn’t score an unearned run on all three errors.
Girardi said before the game that he pitched Bohm against Scott because of his previous success against Mets starter Taijuan Walker.
“He had success on Walker,” Girardi said. “And like I said, they’re both going to play. I think it’s important that they both play.
Walker, however, only lasted two innings due to right shoulder irritation. He struck out four, didn’t walk, and threw 30 pitches, striking out all six batters before leaving the game. He will have an MRI on Tuesday.
Seranthony Dominguez (1-0) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless relief innings for the win. Brad Hand worked the ninth for a stoppage.
The NL East rivalry is only heating up: New York faces the Phillies 12 more times before the end of May. Then, the season series resumes in August.
“I think we understand that our division is very difficult and every game means something,” Girardi said. “But you can’t do too many three games in April. I mean, they’re really important to us, but probably none of the teams look like they’ll be in June and July because people aren’t built.”
David Peterson threw four shutout innings in long relief and held the Phillies in check.
Pete Alonso had an RBI groundout, Eduardo Escobar made it 2-0 on an RBI right hand single and Mark Canha continued his torrid start with a Suarez single for a 3-0 lead in the first. Francisco Lindor added an RBI single in the seventh to make it 4-0.
“This one hurts,” Mets manager Buck Showalter said. “The good thing is that we have a chance to remove this injury tomorrow. That’s the beauty of the game. Sometimes it can be cruel, like tonight.
LET’S REVIEW TWO!
Alonso hit him high, hit him far… he hit him where the refs couldn’t tell in the twilight whether his long drive was right or wrong. It is therefore reviewed. Mistake.
Fair enough.
Alonso then hit a grounder to Bohm and was ruled out on a wide shot by Hoskins. Not enough. Upon closer examination, Hoskins missed the tag and Alonso hit Bohm’s third error in three innings.
HE SAID IT
“You never overlook an orchid when looking for a rose.” – Showalter, looking for available weapons outside the bullpen.
NEXT
The Phillies are sending 2021 NL Cy Young Award finalist Zack Wheeler to the mound for the first time this season. The right-hander is coming back from shoulder pain and hasn’t started spring training. He faces Mets RHP Tylor Megill (1-0, 0.00 ERA).
——
