The Philadelphia Phillies entered the bottom of the ninth against the reeling Miami Marlins with a 7-5 lead. They were in position to give the Marlins another defeat.

The Marlins, though, had some fight in them in front of their hometown fans at loanDepot Park in Miami.

I love Topper, the Phillies manager, but I think crucial decisions in the first two games of the National League Division Series contributed greatly to Phillies losses.

In Game 1, Topper brought back David Robertson, perhaps the fourth-best pitcher available, to start the 7th inning. Shohei Ohtani would bat third. Why not Aaron Nola or even Jhoan Duran there?

Bader was pulled from Game 1 after taking a ball thrown on a pickoff attempt at second base to the forearm. Evidently, the injury was severe enough to scratch him from the starting lineup, but fans still may see him as a late-game pinch hitter.

With Game 1 of the NLDS set for the 6:00 hour on Saturday, Oct. 4, the Phillies are set for their series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

After an 11-1 victory over the Miami Marlins on Sept. 24, Philadelphia secured its first-round bye, skipping straight to the 2025 National League Divisional Series.

Philadelphia Phillies' designated hitter Kyle Schwarber put the Fightins ahead early in their potential NL East-clinching matchup against the Kansas City Royals, launching a ball to left-center field on the first pitch of his at-bat.