From their earliest days in Little League, baseball players are drilled with advice to “shorten up” their swing, “protect the plate,” and swing at “anything close” when facing a 0-2 count. Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Nick Castellanos exemplified this guidance in a dramatic fashion during the Phillies’ 3-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves on “Sunday Night Baseball.”
Castellanos delivered two crucial hits that would have made any youth coach proud. With two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning and the Phillies trailing, Castellanos smacked a game-tying double on an 0-2 count. He wasn’t finished yet; in the bottom of the 11th inning, with two outs once again, Castellanos drilled a game-winning RBI single up the middle, also on an 0-2 count.
Throughout the season, Castellanos has consistently stepped up in key moments for Philadelphia, tallying four walk-off hits. According to NBC Sports Philadelphia’s John Clark, this achievement makes him just the fourth Phillies player since 1920 to notch four walk-off hits in a single season.
Jayson Stark of The Athletic emphasized the significance of Castellanos’ clutch hits, underscoring their impact on the game.
With this victory, the Phillies won three out of four games against the Braves, extending their lead to seven games over Atlanta in the NL East.