The article Nick Castellanos’ full experience leads Phillies to big win appeared first on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Anyone unfamiliar with Nick Castellanos’ game got the full experience Sunday, as an afternoon that started with a few ugly swings ended with a quality third at-bat and a walk-off.
Castellanos heard boos during and after his ground out in the fourth inning. He entered the at-bat by hitting two sliders from Luis Severino out of the zone into the dirt. The third pitch bounced in front of the bat, Castellanos caught it, and a sold-out crowd of 45,679 cheered in the Bronx. he shook his head.
“I think I just locked myself in more because I was frustrated,” he later said.
Two innings after that disappointing at-bat, Castellanos raced around the bases and hit a solo home run to tie the game in Game 2 of the NL vs. the Mets.
In the eighth inning, after the Mets had regained the lead, Castellanos singled with one out before Bryson Stott’s go-ahead two-run triple.
Then, in the top of the 9th inning, Mark Vientos tied the game with a two-run homer off Matt Stram, and in the 9th inning, Castellanos hit a walk-off single with two outs, ending the crazy game.
“I feel like every walk-off hit was Nick,” Stott said. “He’s Nick Castellanos. He’s a professional hitter and he’s hit all his career. He’s done a lot for us this year. His heart rate doesn’t go up, it stays the same. And his swing goes crazy.”
Castellanos has as strong of a lineup as any hitter in the majors. When he’s happy with himself and watching the ball, he’s very dangerous. Otherwise, it’s a relatively easy out without the need to throw a strike.
Last year’s postseason was an exaggerated example. He led the Phillies against the Braves with 7 hits and 4 home runs in 15 at-bats in the NL, and had 1-for-24 hits with 11 strikeouts in the NL CS game against the Diamondbacks.
“I’m very happy for him,” manager Rob Thomson said. “I mean, he works every day. He comes in early and hits one-on-one on the field. I don’t know how he did it and played in 162 games, because he just… Because it’s the main force.”
“I know there’s been a lot of talk about Chase and this and that, so I’m really happy for him, but he can hit, he can hit.
“He doesn’t let anything bother him, really. If he’s struggling, it doesn’t bother him too much and he just keeps working. He’s an experienced guy. He’ll get out of that situation at some point. I know that.”
If he’s out, the timing couldn’t be better for the Phillies. Left-hander Sean Manaea will be the starter for the Mets in Game 3 at Citi Field on Tuesday, but Castellanos hit hard with six hits in 16 at-bats, three home runs, and a double.
Alec Bohm, who was in the cleanup spot before Thomson moved Castellanos in September, was moved to the bench on Sunday in favor of Edmundo Sosa. Boehm will start in the seventh inning and start Games 3 and 4, but it’s unclear how many runs the Phillies will get from him. He has two hits in 29 at bats dating back to the end of the regular season.
Whether Boehm can pick it up or not, the Phillies need Castellanos’ thunder to protect Bryce Harper, but Harper may not be able to hit for the rest of the series, especially in key spots. .
“Nick doesn’t really care,” Kyle Schwarber said. “I don’t know if he took (the Bronx cheers) personally, but you know, he’s done a lot for us. He’s always thinking about the next at-bat or the next play on the field or Whatever it is, I’m looking forward to it.”That’s a big quality, especially in the postseason.”