Bohm makes money after O deliberately gives Harper a free pass; updates on Turner and Marsh originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
BALTIMORE — Like sending Derek Jeter to bat instead of a guy named Derek in the company softball game. Like the kids who pick sides in a basketball game and take Charles Barkley first.
The Orioles’ decision to intentionally walk Bryce Harper with one out and a runner on second in the top of the 11th inning Friday night at Oriole Park at Camden Yards and pitch to Alec Bohm was even simpler than that .
Not just because Harper is one of the most feared clutch hitters in baseball. Also because Bohm, an RBI machine earlier this season, has struggled at the plate lately. Coming into the game, he was hitting .164 in his last 17 games with just 6 RBI.
“I don’t take it as disrespect or anything like that,” he said after doubling both runners to lift the Phillies to a 5-3 victory over the Orioles. “Obviously they’re going to walk Bryce and go for the double play with one out. That’s just a baseball thing. And of course you’re going to walk with Bryce Harper no matter who’s hitting. That’s exactly what you do.”
His big moment came after a rain delay, which halted play right after a bizarre series of events as the Phillies and Orioles each reviewed a play at the plate. The Phillies’ was denied, Baltimore’s was overturned, and that pushed the end of this game past the start of the 11 o’clock news.
“Collectively, this team is able to put things behind them and just keep playing the game,” Bohm added.
Rehabilitation and scheduling are important
• Brandon Marsh started in center field and went 1-for-3 for Double-A Reading on Friday night. Rob Thomson said it made no sense for him to play at center instead of on the left, where he has had most of his playing time. The manager said it is “a possibility” that Marsh, who is on the injured list with a strained hamstring, could be activated in time to rejoin the team on Saturday at Oriole Park.
• Shortstop Trea Turner (hamstring) ran the bases under simulated game conditions before Friday’s game and will do the same Saturday. He has not ruled out being back in the line-up for Sunday’s series finale.
• The question of where Marsh played is relevant because the team has two roster decisions to make when he and Turner are activated. Assuming Weston Wilson is one, they could also send David Dahl back to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, but he has been a productive hitter in seven games — six of the team’s starts in left field — since he was called up . Cristian Pache is out of options, and so far the Phillies have shown little interest in exposing him to waivers. The other choice seems to be the choice of Johan Rojas.
If Rojas goes, Marsh would likely take over at center while Pache and Dahl split time on the left side. Marsh went 3-for-5 for the Fightin Phils against Portland as the designated hitter in his first rehab game Thursday.
• It will be Phillies RHP Taijuan Walker (3-1, 5.40) vs. Phillies RHP Taijuan Walker (3-1, 5.40) on Saturday at 4:05 PM. RHP Grayson Rodriguez (7-2, 3.27), followed by RHP Zack Wheeler (8-3, 2.16) vs. RHP Corbin Burnes (7-2, 2.08) Sunday at 1:35 p.m
