Philadelphia Phillies have had six months of success in the 2024 campaign, but they are one defeat away from elimination after losing the 3rd game of the division series against the New York Mets
NEW YORK — Six months of success for the Philadelphia Phillies they could vanish before the leaves on the trees change color.
With one more loss against the New York Metsa regular season of 95 wins would be less relevant.
Aaron Nola is removed from the mound in the sixth inning in Game 3 of the Phillies division series against the Mets. AP Photo/Seth Wenig
“As a group this is the closest we get to death so, in part, we should feel more alive,” Nick Castellanos said after Tuesday’s 7-2 loss put the Phillies down 2-1. in the National League Division Series agreed to the best of five games. “It’s just one more moment to calm down and give it our all on the field, and however the dice fall, they will fall.”
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Philadelphia is one loss away from taking another step backwards. Seeking their third World Series title after 1980 and 2008, the Phillies reached Game 6 of the World Series in 2022 before losing to the Houston Astros. They took a 3-2 lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks last year in the National League Championship Series, then lost Game 6 and Game 7 at home.
Castellanos spoke in a dressing room so quiet that the showers in the other section sounded like waterfalls.
Phillies manager Rob Thomson addressed the team after the final out.
“I told them that it is the most resilient club I have ever been in,” he said. “That’s what it’s about. It’s about toughness, fighting and playing together. “That’s what we have to do and focus on one game.”
Philadelphia was behind 2-0 in the third game in New York due to home runs by Pete Alonso in the second leg and Jesse Winker in the fourth off Aaron Nola.
Sean Manaea worked comfortably in five innings for the Mets, but momentarily lost control and started the sixth inning with walks to Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner.
Bryce Harper struck out on three pitches.
“First pitch, a changeup. I thought it was a really good pitch to hit, and then he threw me two killer sliders,” Harper said.
Thomson saw it this way: “It’s just the situation where he’s trying to do too much, trying to carry the team on his shoulders,” the manager said.
Castellanos hit a liner to Cuban second baseman José Iglesias, who passed it to shortstop Francisco Lindor to force Schwarber and complete a double play that ended the inning.
“He threw me a good changeup to the outside. I stuck with it and got by,” Castellanos said. “A little further to the left, a little further to the right, the runs at first and third were coming in.”
That started the stretch in which the Phillies made six outs on 13 pitches, part of an offense that is hitting .204 in the middle of three postseason games against New York.
Attention is focused on the fourth game this Wednesday, when Venezuelan Ranger Suárez pitches against Colombian José Quintana. While Suarez is 3-1 with a 1.62 ERA in seven starts and two playoff relief appearances, he is 0-2 with an 8.25 ERA in his last three regular-season starts.
“Now it’s October so it’s a different atmosphere, another vibe,” he said.
