Soon after Nick Castellanos lifted the Phillies to victory and rang the mechanical Liberty Bell at Citizens Bank Park with a go-ahead home run, another sort of ringing interrupted the right fielder’s interview with reporters in the clubhouse after Thursday night’s game.
Castellanos, prone to some entertaining quotes and moments with the media, noticed a phone going off nearby as he answered a question. His provided a quick-witted comment in a hilarious reaction.
“Hold on,” Castellanos said. “Let him get that. You good?”
He continued on, speaking on a night he played one of the heroes. Trailing by four runs, Brandon Marsh hit a three-run home run to bring the Phillies back in, then Castellanos hit a two-run, game-winning blast to center field in the bottom of the seventh inning to help defeat the Braves, 5-4, in the opener of a pivotal four-game National League East series.
“It’s pretty key,” Castellanos said of the win. “Moments like that are always fun, so I enjoy doing it. With that being said, we got three games left against these guys. So, as cliche as it goes, turn the page.”
Philadelphia (79-75) came out flat, but rebounded to extend its lead in the division to six games over Atlanta. There was a spark as Marsh hit a three-run shot off Braves starter Charlie Morton, just like he did against the right-hander in Game 4 of the 2022 NL Division Series. Castellanos displayed shades of last year’s NLDS Game 4 as he hit a key homer in his powder blue throwback Phillies jersey. The team retired former Phillie Whit Merrifield to complete perhaps the best victory of the season.
There was some extra juice in the ballpark as the events unfolded between the two rivals. It’s a serious time of year for the Phillies against a crucial opponent as they look to wrap up the division and secure a first-round bye in the postseason. Castellanos and his teammates certainly answered the call on Thursday.
— Phillies Nation’s Tim Kelly contributed to this story.
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