Sep 1, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos (8) has water dumped on him by outfielder Brandon Marsh (16) and second base Bryson Stott (5) after his walk-off single during the eleventh inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
On Pattison's countdown of the 15 best Phillies games of 2024 continues with yet another Nick Castellanos walk-off hit.
15) April 16, 2024 - Ranger Suarez throws a complete game shutout
14) September 14, 2024 - The Cal Stevenson game
13) May 18, 2024 - Kody Clemens ninth-inning home run
12) July 9, 2024 - Phillies clobber Dodgers, 10-1, in first game of series sweep
11) June 18, 2024 - Nick Castellanos walk-off double against Padres
10) June 24, 2024 - Phillies turn 1-3-5 triple play
9) April 30, 2024 - Castellanos and Rojas hit ninth-inning bombs against Angels
8) June 3, 2024 - Rhys Hoskins returns to Philly as a Brewer
7) October 6, 2024 - Nick Castellanos NLDS walk-off single
6) September 3, 2024 - Kyle Schwarber hits three home runs in wild comeback win over Toronto
5) April 2, 2024 - Bryce Harper hits three home runs in early-season win over Reds
4) September 1, 2024 - Nick Castellanos walk-off single in 11th inning against Braves
© Eric Hartline | 2024 Sep 1For the third time in our top-15 countdown, we have a game featuring a Nick Castellanos walk-off hit.
BREAK OUT THE BIG BUCKET pic.twitter.com/1qEbggHGax
Before we get to the action itself, some context is in order.
After a torrid start to the year, the Phillies cooled down considerably in July, posting a 10-14 record (their only losing month of the regular season aside from a 1-2 March). They weren't much better in August, sporting a 13-12 record for the month on Aug. 29 as they kicked off a four-game series against the second-place Atlanta Braves.
The Phillies' lead in the NL East had dwindled from a season high of ten games to just five. A poor showing in their final head-to-head series with ATL would usher in a stressful September.
As a Braves fan, this likely is the last chance we have to really gain any ground on you guys. If we don’t win at least 3, the official concession likely takes place. I’ve been done for weeks after our Rockies loss, but there is a chance still to make it interesting. Let’s go.
Luckily, the Phils won two of the first three games of the series, giving them an opportunity to step on the Braves' necks in game four. Aaron Nola was on the mound.
💛💛💛#PhilliesGoGold x #RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/HTLFepsP9F
Nola pitched well in six innings, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out nine. But he exited the game with the Phillies trailing, 2-0.
The offense finally woke up in the bottom of the sixth. Castellanos tied the game with a two-out, two-run double.
Casty gets The Bank goin' pic.twitter.com/JSO8RCKOyi
Both teams' bats fell silent from there.
Orion Kerkering, Jeff Hoffman, Matt Strahm, and Carlos Estevez made sure the Braves didn't score again. Strahm worked out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the ninth inning. Estevez stranded the extra-inning ghost runner in both the tenth and eleventh.
That set the stage for Mr. Walkoff.
THE GAME'S NOT OVER UNTIL CASTY SAYS IT'S OVER pic.twitter.com/a2TqQE0zMI
September baseball at The Bank#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/5SccG1yoQj
“I think the thing that has gotten me the most comfortable in those spots is all the work I do on the field early," said Castellanos after the game. "I don’t feel like I’m searching for a swing. I think that since we started doing that in May, it’s just built success slowly.”
Photo via @phillies on twitterThe victory pushed the Phillies' division lead to seven games and extended what would eventually be a six-game winning streak.
They'd go 15-11 overall in September.
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