Phillies news: Don Mattingly reveals what has 'gone a little bit backwards' for Philly

The Philadelphia Phillies faced a slow start against the Houston Astros in a Tuesday night game, trailing by five runs by the end of the fourth inning. However, the Phillies managed to rally, thanks to Trea Turner's two-run home run and subsequent strong hitting from the rest of the team. Despite the spirited comeback, the Phillies fell short, losing 6-5 to the Astros.

Interim manager Don Mattingly expressed disappointment over the team's baserunning, stating, "Obviously, pitchers are throwing harder and are tougher to hit than they've ever been. Baserunning, for me, has kind of went a little backwards in a lot of scenarios. Not just here, but all over the place." Mattingly's remarks highlight the importance of baserunning in close games, as a few miscues may have cost the Phillies valuable runs.

The seventh inning saw missed scoring opportunities for the Phillies, particularly when Bryson Stott held onto his run to avoid overtaking Alec Bohm on a double by Brandon Marsh. In the very next at-bat, Marsh made a costly mistake, straying too far from the bag and getting doubled up off second base on a lineout from JT Realmuto. This misstep left the Phillies two runs down, with two outs in the inning.

The situation worsened in the ninth inning when pinch-hitter Edmundo Sosa drove in Stott with an extra-base hit, but the decision to settle for a double rather than going for third base was criticized. Some believe that Sosa could have advanced to third base, which would have significantly impacted the game's outcome. The Phillies must address these baserunning issues if they hope to contend for a World Series title.