The Phillies strike back in the Mets' dogfight (NLDS) with a walk-off from Castellanos

PHILADELPHIA – Kyle Schwarber hastily packed his duffel bag in the Philadelphia Phillies clubhouse on Sunday night, knowing they had to catch a move and win a series, but then suddenly stopped, took a sip of his drink and paused to think, what was inside The world had just happened.

Schwarber has more postseason experience than anyone on the field, having appeared in 67 postseason games and 19 series over nine years, including the Chicago Cubs’ 2016 World Series championship season.

Still, he didn’t even hesitate and blurted out the words, which echoed throughout the clubhouse.

“That,” Schwarber said, “was one of the greatest games I’ve ever been a part of.”

“I can’t wait to watch it again.”

And this time he can actually relax and enjoy it.

The Phillies and the New York Mets went head-to-head for nine innings, had four lost leads, six home runs, 21 hits and eight runs scored by All-Star relievers, ultimately finishing as the guy who ran from was loudly booed by his home fans, became the hero that all of Philadelphia must embrace.

Nick Castellanos saved the Phillies’ season with a two-out, two-strike, RBI single in the ninth inning to give the Phillies a wild 7-6 victory over the New York Mets, one of the franchise’s biggest postseason victories. Story.

“To respond the way we did, wow,” Schwarber said. “They fought back. And we answer. They fight back and we react. It was an exchange of blows the whole time. It was an opportune moment, an opportune shot, a two-out shot.

“This is baseball. That’s the beauty of this game. That’s why this game is great.

The Phillies’ win evens the best-of-five National League Division Series series, with Game 3 scheduled for Tuesday at Citi Field in New York, where the Mets last played on Sept. 22 before traveling to Atlanta, Milwaukee and went back to Atlanta, back to Milwaukee and Philadelphia.

“The energy here is great,” said Mets third baseman Mark Vientos, who nearly led the Mets to victory with two home runs and four RBI, including a game-winning two-run home run in the ninth. “I can’t wait until we get back to Citi Field and play in front of our fans.”

The loud atmosphere and crowd noise were insane at Citizens Bank Park, and by the time the 45,679 fans went home Sunday night, they may have been more exhausted than the players.

“I’ve never experienced anything like this,” said Phillies outfielder Kody Clemens, the son of seven-time Cy Young winner Roger Clemens. “I’m not sure I’ve seen anything like this with my dad before. I can’t wait to ask him what he thinks.

There were so many ups and downs throughout the afternoon and evening that it was difficult to keep track. A minute later, the Mets were up 3-0 in the sixth inning, only to be tied 3-3 after three pitches with home runs by Bryce Harper and Castellanos.

The Mets regained the lead 4-3 early in the seventh on Brandon Nimmo’s home run, but then fell behind 5-4 in the bottom of the eighth when Bryson Scott hit a two-run triple against the Mets’ closer Edwin Diaz scored, making it 6-0. 4. Play of fielder’s choice by JT Realmuto.

“What a damn (bleeping) swing of that quality, closer,” Schwarber said.

Phillies reliever Matt Strahm comes out in the ninth inning to end the game and suddenly watches Vientos hit a game-winning two-run home run, causing the crowd to groan.

Then comes the bottom of the ninth, and there are consecutive two-out walks to Trea Turner and Harper, and on an 0-and-2 pitch, Castellanos gets his third straight hit and fifth walk-off hit of the season .

“I feel like sometimes you don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel,” Turner said, “and then things start to happen. You see that some things are going the way you want them to, and you feel like you’re in the driver’s seat.” . What you know will be taken away from you again.

“That’s what we expect from them. … There is no end in them, and there is no end in our dugout either.”

Nimmo said: “Just a great game, a great game.”

This is the first time the Phillies and Mets have met in the postseason, and Castellanos’ walk-off was the first for the Phillies in the postseason since Jimmy Rollins in the 2009 National League Championship Series.

“It was crazy,” Strahm said. “I’m sitting (in front of my locker) coming out and then I hear this roar as the whole place is rumbling. It was incredible.”

“It’s everything you dream about as a child. Every kid in Philly will pretend it’s Bryce Harper. These fans make it ten times better every time we’re out there. I have never experienced a place like Citizens Bank. You have to come here to experience it.

Certainly these large crowds are not for the weak. You have to have thick skin and a terribly short memory.

In the seventh, with the Phillies still being shut out by starter Luis Severino and losing 3-0, the Mets elected to pitch Harper with two outs and Turner at first base. With the score tied at 2 and 2, Harper abruptly woke the crowd with a 431-foot home run over center field. Two pitches later, Castellanos sent an 86.4 mph slider over the left field fence to tie the game, and those boos faded into the night.

“I was just frustrated,” Castellanos said, “so I guess I put more into it.”

The crowd was suddenly alive, and so were the Phillies.

“It was sick,” Harper said. “The best fan base in the world, man. They continue to fight for us and we fight for them. We’re not just fighting for 25 people here. We fight for everyone.”

The Phillies had many heroes throughout the game, but in the end none were bigger than Castellanos

“Nick doesn’t mind that much,” Schwarber said. “I don’t know if he took the boos personally, but you know what, he played a big role for us.”

Stott said: “I feel like every walk-off hit is Nick. He’s Nick Castellanos. He is a professional batsman and has batted his entire career.

Now the series moves on to New York, where the Mets will be reacquainted with Citi Field and their own fans will take on the Phillies’ shouts and taunts.

“I expect it will be a pretty hostile atmosphere,” Harper said, smiling. “We’re looking forward to it.”

Of course, this also applies to everyone else.

Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale

Get to the heart of the news quickly with the USA TODAY app. Download for award-winning reporting, crosswords, audio storytelling, the e-newspaper and more.

The Phillies strike back in the Mets’ dogfight (NLDS) with a walk-off from Castellanos

ByJasper

By Jasper

Related Post

Steelers allow late touchdown, lose 20-17 to Cowboys

Joey Porter Jr. is playing it tight-lipped about whether he will accompany CeeDee Lamb in the slot

The Key Suns starter was injured before the opening preseason game against the Lakers

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You missed

Steelers allow late touchdown, lose 20-17 to Cowboys

Joey Porter Jr. is playing it tight-lipped about whether he will accompany CeeDee Lamb in the slot

The Key Suns starter was injured before the opening preseason game against the Lakers

FC Juárez dominates and wins with a solid 2-0 against Santos Laguna | League MX