Nick Castellanos delivers in the 11th, Phillies take 3-of-4 against the Atlanta Braves

Nick Castellanos and the Philadelphia Phillies earned a massive win last night at Citizens Bank Park, winning 3-2 in extra innings, taking 3-of-4 from the Atlanta Braves in the series.

Spencer Schwellenbach cruised through the Phillies lineup with ease for the first five innings. In the sixth, it appeared to be more of the same before he coughed up a two-out single to Trea Turner, followed by Bryce Harper bloop double that put runners on second and third for Nick Castellanos.

Casty fell behind 0-2 in the count – which typically means doom for any hitters in Major League Baseball this season. The league average is .150 with a .382 OPS for hitters in an 0-2 hole and Castellanos himself had batted .145 (9-for-62) with 27 strikeouts and a .334 OPS in 0-2 counts this season. [MLB]

Not last night.

Schwellenbach through an errant slider up in the strike zone and Nick Castellanos hit a game-tying, two-out, two-run double to left-center to tie the game at 2-2.

Nick Castellanos Game-Tying 2-Run Double

Casty gets The Bank goin' pic.twitter.com/JSO8RCKOyi

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) September 2, 2024

Let’s rewind for a moment…

Michael Harris II hit a solo shot off Aaron Nola to give the Braves a 1-0 lead in the third inning. Atlanta extended their lead on a Whit Merrifield force out in the top of the fourth inning to make the score 2-0. 

On the night, Nola pitched six innings, allowing four hits and two earned runs, walking one and striking out nine. Momentum swung in the Phillies’ favor on Castellanos’ double in the sixth, as the bullpen battled through five scoreless innings as the game headed to extra innings. 

In the bottom of the 11th inning, Grant Holmes, who coughed up a homer to Castellanos on Thursday night, forced him yet again into an 0-2 count. For whatever reason, Holmes wanted to challenge Castellanos and with the count at 1-2, threw him a fastball down the middle of the plate, which Casty ripped up the gut to plate a the winning run in walk-off fashion. 

Nick Castellanos Walk-Off in the 11th

THE GAME'S NOT OVER UNTIL CASTY SAYS IT'S OVER pic.twitter.com/a2TqQE0zMI

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) September 2, 2024

The Phillies took 3-of-4 from the Atlanta Braves, putting a stranglehold on the NL East with just 25 games remaining. They now lead the Braves by seven games. They are in second place in both the National League and in the overall MLB standings, trailing only the Los Angeles Dodgers by one game. 

Phillies Games Remaining:

• Toronto Blue Jays at Philadelphia Phillies (2 Games) 
• Philadelphia Phillies at Miami Marlins (3 Games) 
• Tampa Bay Rays at Philadelphia Phillies (3 Games) 
• New York Mets at Philadelphia Phillies (3 Games) 
• Philadelphia Phillies at Milwaukee Brewers (3 Games) 
• Philadelphia Phillies at New York Mets (3 Games)
• Chicago Cubs at Philadelphia Phillies (3 Games) 
• Philadelphia Phillies at Washington Nationals (3 Games) 

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