Castellanos Leads Phils Past Mets, Knots Series at One

PHILLIES 7 - METS 6 

When the chips are down, Nick Castellanos almost always seems to be in the middle of good things for the Philadelphia Phillies, and he was again on Sunday night, leading Philly to 6-4 win over the Mets at Citizen's Bank Park in Game 2 of the NLDS. 

Nick Castellanos and the Phillies celebrate. Getty Images.

 

The series is now knotted at a game a piece, as it heads back to Citi Field on Tuesday. 

The Phillies' veteran outfielder was 3-for-5 with a pair of RBI. His solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning tied the proceedings at three. And finally when the Phillies needed it with two men aboard, he delivered a sharp single into the left field corner to plate the winning run. 

After the celebration, Castellanos walked up to his son who was sitting behind home plate to celebrate with him.

All of sudden we got a new series. 

For the Mets, it was a humbling loss, but this has been a team that has defied the odds so many times this year, and especially over the last week. On Sunday, New York turned to Mark Vientos as its hero. He launched a two-run homer in the first inning to give the Mets a 2-0 lead. 

Later in the top of the ninth, with New York trailing 6-4, Vientos did it again, getting just enough of Matt Strahm's fastball to get it over the wall, tying the game at six. 

The two Vientos homers were part of a four-homer barage by the Mets as Brandon Nimmo and Pete Alonso went deep. 

Unfortunately for New York the bullpen just couldn't get the job done, as Edwin Diaz gave up three runs, and Tylor Megill gave up the game winner. 

It should be an incredible atmosphere at Citi Field on Tuesday when the series shifts for Game 3.