Phillies’ costly baserunning blunder highlights a rain-delayed 2-1 loss to the Dodgers

In last year’s postseason vanquishing by the Dodgers, the Phillies lost three games by a total of four runs.

Zack Wheeler wasn’t involved in any of them.

We offer that as “a reminder for whoever needs to be reminded,” to use Wheeler’s line, that the Phillies will be an even tougher out this October — assuming, that is, they (a) make the playoffs and (b) can line up Cristopher Sánchez and Wheeler to start Games 1 and 2.

Oh, and that they don’t make boneheaded baserunning mistakes to end a game.

Because although the Dodgers were subdued by Wheeler but for one pitch Tuesday night, they eked out a 2-1 victory through steady rain because the Phillies ran into an unfathomable game-ending double play.

With runners on second and third, Brandon Marsh hit a grounder to third base. Justin Crawford got into a rundown between home and third and got tagged out at third base, at which point J.T. Realmuto got thrown out trying to retreat to second.

All together now: Yikes.

Let the record reflect that Max Muncy’s two-run homer into the center-field shrubbery on a first-pitch cutter in the fourth inning was the deciding blow. It was also the only dent in Wheeler over seven innings.

It seemed the game might come down to seven pitches in the eighth inning.

Trailing 2-1, Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper came to the plate against Dodgers lefty reliever Tanner Scott. Schwarber fouled off back-to-back two-strike pitches before chasing a slider below the strike zone. Harper lined a first-pitch slider to center field.

It wasn’t the desired results. But the Phillies will take their chances with those matchups in the late innings any day.

After an 80-minute rain delay at the outset, the game had a postseason feel, from the duel between Wheeler and lefty Justin Wrobleski to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts using Scott for a five-out save.

And, of course, to the crazy ending.

The Phillies struck first with two out in the first inning. Harper lined a double to left-center and scored on Alec Bohm’s single up the middle.

But the Phillies managed only three more hits against Wrobleski. He shut them down for seven innings in May at Dodger Stadium, part of a stellar first half that put him the All-Star Game.

Wheeler was irritated by being left out. Since then, he has allowed a total of three runs in 21 innings over his last three starts, a revenge tour that has lowered his already teeny-tiny ERA to 2.16 and put him squarely in the Cy Young conversation.

Muncy gave the Dodgers a 2-1 lead, which they took into the ninth inning. Bohm led off with a single and was replaced by Crawford as a pinch-runner. Realmuto doubled to left field, sending Crawford to third base before the game-ending gaffe.

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