Phillies fall to Angels 8-2 on July 20, 2025, as Ranger Suárez struggles. Otto Kemp's errors highlight a major third base problem without injured Alec Bohm.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was one of those dreary Sunday afternoons at Citizens Bank Park where not much went right. The Phillies fell 8-2 to the Los Angeles Angels in a game that felt out of reach early, thanks to a five-run implosion in the second inning. But beyond the lopsided score, the loss cast a harsh spotlight on the team's most pressing issue: life without Alec Bohm is already proving to be a bumpy ride.
Three errors in six starts at third base for Otto Kemp.
The game unraveled quickly for starter Ranger Suárez. After a clean first, the second inning was a nightmare. A barrage of Angels hits, punctuated by a bases-clearing, three-run double from Taylor Ward, put the Phillies in a 5-1 hole they'd never climb out of. Mike Trout and Zach Neto also chipped in RBIs in the inning. Suárez was ultimately chased in the fifth after allowing six earned runs, dropping his record to 7-4. The offense, meanwhile, was mostly silenced by Angels starter Jose Soriano, who went seven strong innings. Besides a second-inning RBI single from Rafael Marchán, the bats were quiet, managing just six hits all day.
Filling in for the injured Alec Bohm is no easy task, and Otto Kemp's day perfectly encapsulated the dilemma the Phillies face. On one hand, he provided a rare spark of offense, launching a solo home run 361 feet into the right-center field seats in the sixth. It was a nice swing on a knuckle curve. On the other hand, his defense at the hot corner was a major liability. Kemp was charged with two errors on the day, bringing his total to a concerning three in just six starts at third base. While he's been solid in limited action at first base and left field, his struggles at third are becoming a pattern the team can't afford to ignore.
In a bit of welcome news that broke through the gloom of the loss, reports surfaced Sunday that the Phillies have signed veteran reliever David Robertson. While the team has yet to make it official, this would mark the right-hander's third stint in Philadelphia, following memorable runs in 2019 and, of course, during the 2022 World Series campaign. It's a clear move to bolster the back end of the bullpen, adding a proven, high-leverage arm to the mix. With the team facing uncertainty in other areas, shoring up the relief corps is a proactive step from the front office.
So where do the Phillies go from here? The loss stings, but the larger questions linger. Can they weather the storm at third base until Alec Bohm's rib fracture heals? Is Otto Kemp's bat worth the defensive risk, or will they need to explore other options, like the newly recalled Weston Wilson? The reported addition of David Robertson shows the team is still in 'win-now' mode, but they'll need to plug the hole at third and get the bats going again to wash away the taste of this tough Sunday loss.
