Nick Castellanos Comes Up Clutch To Save The Phillies Season

Nick Castellanos has a roller-coaster relationship with Phillies fans. At times his tendency to swing at anything within a mile of the plate can be maddening. But he has also arguably been their best hitter for the past 3 months. And then tonight, after the bullpen blew another lead, it was none other than Nick Castellanos who walked it off to win game 2, even thisseries up, and arguably saved the season.

That was only the start of his heroics tonight. It was his solo HR in the 6th inning that initially tied the game up. Then he got a single in the 8th that set up Bryson Stott's 2-run triple. Even after all of that, he had 1 more clutch hit in him.

Castellnaos went 3-5, with a HR, 2 RBIs, and 3 Runs. He accounted for 4 of their 7 runs, either driving them in or scoring them himself. He also made a sliding catch in the top of the 9th that helped keep the game tied.

Say what you want about his tendency to chase pitches in the dirt. There are times when he looks lost, but if it were not for him coming up clutch 3 different times tonight, the Phillies would be on the brink of elimination.

So give him his flowers. He has more than earned them today, and frankly, he has earned them dating back to June. It is not the first time he walked it off this year. Nor is ith the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th. This is his 5th walk-off of the season. At this point, there is no one you want up with the game on the line more than him.

Don't forget Harper either. It was his 2-run shot in the 6th that woke the bats up. Then he drew walks in the 8th and 9th innings, setting up the clutch hits by Castellanos and Stott. Castellanos was the hero, but he wouldn't get the chance if Harper didn't do his thing too.

The Phillies get Monday off, and then they and the Mets will reconvene on Tuesday at 5:08 for game 3. The Phillies will have Aaron Nola on the mound, who has a career 1.54 ERA in the NLDS. Don't count out the Phillies just yet.

The Philadelphia Phillies began the MLB Playoffs in 2023 the same way they did in 2022.

Related Content: Phillies Red October Memories: 6 Games That Defined the Run to the 2022 World Series

While they didn’t win the National League East, they look primed for a hot streak in the new playoff format with six bids in each league.

It looked like history would repeat itself with a wild card team reaching the World Series. Except this time, the Phillies wouldn’t be the surprise underdogs against a team powerhouse like the Houston Astros.

Dave Dombrowski had added Trea Turner to an already stacked lineup. The high-priced shortstop finally came around offensively late in the 2023 regular season, and the World Series experience in 2022 made the Phillies a popular title pick locally and nationally.

The Red October crowd resumed the wrath that opponents felt during the miracle ride in 2022.

The Miami Marlins, Atlanta Braves, and the Arizona Diamondbacks stood in their way.

October 16-17, 2023
National League Championship Series Games 1-2 at Citizens Bank Park
Phillies 5, Arizona Diamondbacks 3; Phillies 10, Arizona Diamondbacks 0

It was a done deal. Right?