PHILADELPHIA -- Trea Turner had a foolproof plan for Cristopher Sánchez heading into Sánchez’s showdown opposite Braves ace Chris Sale on Saturday night at Citizens Bank Park.
“He was telling me before the game, 'Hey, just strike them all out,'” Sánchez said via a team interpreter.
It was perhaps only fitting that Turner was tested repeatedly in the early innings by Atlanta’s hitters -- and he passed every time. Turner’s defensive showcase set the stage for his offensive heroics later in the night, as he came through with a two-out, two-run walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th to lead the Phillies to a 3-2 victory.
With their third straight win, the Phils (79-57) increased their lead atop the NL East to six games over the Mets (73-63), who lost to the Marlins for the second time in the past three games.
Turner’s seventh career walk-off knock completed a three-hit night, raising his NL-leading hit total to 168 this season. He's on pace for the Phillies' first 200-hit season since Jimmy Rollins in 2007. He is also on pace to steal 40 bases after swiping two more against Atlanta, and he's on pace to score what would be a career-high 109 runs.
“He did everything tonight,” said manager Rob Thomson. “Three hits, a walk, the game-winning RBI, played great in the infield.”
It’s that last part that has been perhaps the most impressive aspect of Turner’s MVP-caliber season.
Turner’s defensive struggles over his first two seasons in Philadelphia have been well documented. His 40 errors from 2023-24 were the second most among all players, regardless of position, behind Elly De La Cruz’s 43.
Digging into the metrics a bit more, Turner ranked last among all shortstops in defensive runs saved over the past two seasons with -26 -- nine fewer than any other shortstop. His -9 outs above average ranked 36th among 38 qualified shortstops.
But 2025 has been a different story -- and that was on full display on Saturday night.
It started in the second inning, when Turner ranged to his right to make a stop, then fired a strike across the diamond to retire the speedy Michael Harris II and end the inning -- and prevent a run.
One inning later, Turner again ranged to his right before making a leaping, Jeter-esque throw that first baseman Bryce Harper corralled before applying the tag for the second out. Two batters later, Turner ranged back and to his right to field a high bouncer on the outfield grass, then fired a flat-footed throw across his body to retire Matt Olson and end the inning.
Turner wasn't finished. With runners on the corners and only one out in the fourth, he made it look easy as he fielded a grounder up the middle, stepped on second and fired to Harper to end yet another threat.
So, about that plan to just have Sánchez strike everyone out …
“I told him in the fifth inning, 'You can start striking out more people if you want, I feel like I've gotten quite a few plays,'” Turner said. “He loves it; he's so positive out there on the mound. If we make a play for him, he's super excited, and the opposite -- if we make a mistake, he says, 'Don't worry about it.'”
There haven’t been a whole lot of those from Turner this season.
He entered the night with 14 OAA. Although that ranks fourth among shortstops overall, Turner has been perhaps the best all-around defender at the position.
On plays going to his right, Turner has 11 OAA, which trails only reigning AL Gold Glove winner Bobby Witt Jr. (12). But Turner also has 3 OAA going to his left, tied for the most in MLB. (Witt has -3 OAA on those plays.)
“I always felt like I should be a better defender than I was in the past,” Turner said. “I knew I was capable, and it wasn't from a lack of effort or work. ... So it feels really good to kind of finally be the defender I thought I should be for a lot longer.”
Added Sánchez, whose eight strikeouts fell a bit shy of Turner’s lofty prognostication: “It feels amazing [to have Turner playing behind me], and it’s just great to see how much he has improved back there.”
Turner's offensive production is obviously vital atop the lineup, but his defensive improvements are also crucial for a team set to rely on ground ball-heavy pitchers this postseason.
So although it would be great for a starter to strike everyone out, the Phillies are grateful to have a much-improved Turner playing up the middle until that day comes.
“Our infield is solid right now,” Thomson said. “ ... I love our defense.”