After a rock-bottom game Wednesday that saw him go 0-for-5 with a crucial defensive miscue that probably cost the Philadelphia Phillies a win over the Miami Marlins, struggling shortstop Trea Turner took full accountability in his postgame meeting with the media.
“I’m pretty disappointed. I feel like obviously I’m the reason why we lost that game,” Turner said after what turned out to be a 9-8 loss. “Just, you know, I’m frustrated. But I only know one thing, and that’s just keep working. So that’s what I’m gonna do.”
Turner — according to MLB.com‘s Todd Zolecki — then proceeded to hit in the batting cages for over an hour after the 12-inning loss, finishing less than 12 hours before the Phillies were scheduled to play the series finale in Miami.
In recent days, Phillies fans organized on social media in an attempt to show support for Turner, who has had a fairly disastrous first season of an 11-year/$300 million deal with the team.
One of the gestures that some came up with was rather than booing Turner in Friday’s series opener against the Kansas City Royals, to instead shower him with cheers, seemingly aware that he’s not struggling because of a lack of effort.
Turner received, by far, the loudest applause at Citizens Bank Park when public address announcer Dan Baker read the lineups before the game. And as he came to the plate for his first at-bat in the bottom of the second inning, he was greeted with a thunderous ovation from the fans in attendance.
Turner would break his bat as he lined out to first baseman Salvador Perez. Nonetheless, an at-bat that featured “Let’s go, Turner!” chants will definitely be remembered if this show of support ends up being a turning point for the two-time All-Star.
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