The Phillies bench drops third baseman Alec Bohm in Game 2 of the NLDS

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Looking for a boost to a struggling offense, the Philadelphia Phillies benched All-Star third baseman Alec Bohm for Game 2 of the NL Division Series.

Bohm is healthy but completely devastated after going 0-for-4 in one game 2:6 defeat in game 1 to the New York Mets, where he slammed his helmet shut in frustration after another empty hit.

Edmundo Sosa started at third base against Mets starter Luis Severino on Sunday.

“I wanted to bring some energy to the lineup with Sosa, he’s kind of our energy guy,” manager Rob Thomson said before Game 2. “Bohm doesn’t swing the bat particularly well, but he’s not the only one.” He’s frustrated. But I just wanted to get Sosa in there.”

With the Phillies trailing 4-3 in the seventh, Bohm pinch-hit Sosa with one out and a runner on first base. Bohm made it to third base against right-hander José Buttó.

Bohm hit .280 with 15 home runs, 97 RBIs and 44 doubles that season, but faded as time went on. He finished the regular season 2-for-27 and is – in a very small sample – 0-for-3 against Severino.

Bohm is a postseason hitter, batting .222 (24 for 108), with two home runs and 14 RBIs in 31 games.

Sosa hit .257 with seven home runs and 31 RBIs in 90 games this season.

“He goes out there and runs around,” Thomson said. “And I think it energizes other people too, and that’s what we need.”

The Phillies need more than a burst of energy.

They need the high-priced lineup to beat. All-Star shortstop Trea Turner was Philadelphia’s worst postseason offensive player. He is 0-for-16 in the playoffs, dating back to Game 5 of last season’s NL Championship Series against Arizona.

Right fielder Nick Castellanos went 1-for-4 with a single in his final at-bat of Game 1, ending a postseason hitless streak that began in Game 2 of last season’s NLCS.

The Phillies’ modest effort in Game 1 against the Mets caused them to miss a great start Ace Zack Wheeler. Wheeler pitched one-hit ball over seven shutout innings that went for naught after the bullpen imploded in the eighth inning.

Second baseman Bryson Stott was moved to fifth in the order, while Sosa goes eighth.

Thomson said the move involved no more than replacing a struggling batsman.

“As far as a wake-up call goes, no, not really,” Thomson said. “I think these people know exactly what needs to be done. I certainly don’t think they need a wake-up call.”

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