NEW YORK After a tough 7-2 loss to the Mets in Game 3 of the NL Division Series, Phillies manager Rob Thomson gathered his team in the clubhouse on Tuesday night to offer some words of encouragement.
He reminded them that the series isn't over yet and that they still have a chance.
"I told them this is the most resilient team I've ever been around, " Thomson said. "Theyve shown toughness and fight all season long, and thats what we need now. We just need to focus on winning one game. Thats all we can control right now."
The Phillies now trail the Mets 2-1 in the best-of-five series, and if they lose Game 4 on Wednesday, their postseason dreams will be overfar sooner than they expected after heading into Spring Training back in February.
Having made it to Game 6 of the 2022 World Series and Game 7 of the 2023 NLCS, the Phillies were hoping those postseason experiences would lead them to a championship run this year.
"For us https://www.philliesplayerfanstore.com/throwback-12, this is the closest we've ever been to being out, " Phillies right fielder Nick Castellanos said. "But in a way, it also makes us feel the most alive. We only have tomorrow. This is the moment weve been working for since Spring Training. Its one more chance to give everything weve got on the field."
However, things havent been going the Phillies' way. Their powerful offense has been quiet, with only a flurry of runs in the final innings of Game 2 to show for their efforts. The bullpen has struggled, allowing 12 runs in just nine innings, blowing leads, and turning close games into blowouts.
In Game 3, the Phillies hit three balls with exit velocities of 106.3 mph or higher in the first inningbut all three were caught for outs.
"Its tough when you make solid contact and dont get the results you expect, " Bryce Harper said. "Youre thinking those balls are going to lead to some damage, but sometimes thats just the way the game goes. Manaea pitched a great game today."
The Mets held a 2-0 lead going into the sixth inning when Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner walked to start the frame. Schwarber fell behind 0-2 but worked a walk, and Turner was walked on four consecutive pitches to load the bases.
Harper, who came into Game 3 with a career 1.024 postseason OPSthe third-best in MLB historywas poised to make an impact. But he struggled at the plate, striking out on three pitches, including two sliders that caught him off guard.
"That first pitch changeup looked like a good one to hit, but then he threw me a couple of sliders that threw me off, " Harper explained.
Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez added, "We had a plan for Harper, " though that didnt help prevent a poor at-bat from the slugger.
"I think he was trying to do too much, " Thomson said. "He was trying to carry the team on his shoulders, which is tough in that spot."
Nick Castellanos then lined into an inning-ending double play to end the threat.
"Disbelief? No, that's just baseball, " Castellanos said. "You just have to roll with it and keep going."
Things quickly unraveled from there. Aaron Nola loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth, and though Orion Kerkering induced a ground ball from Jose Iglesias, second baseman Edmundo Sosa bobbled the ball, allowing the Mets to extend their lead. Starling Marte followed with a two-run single to make it 4-0.
Manaea threw a perfect seventh inning on just seven pitches https://www.philliesplayerfanstore.com/kyle_schwarber_jersey-206, and the Mets added two more runs to stretch their lead to 6-0. It was a near-certain loss for the Phillies, who now face the possibility of being eliminated in Game 4.
The Phillies will turn to left-handed pitcher Ranger Surez in Game 4, though he hasnt pitched well since mid-June. However, Surez has been excellent in the postseason the past two years, and the Phillies are hoping he can regain that form at Citi Field.
The offense, however, needs to step up to give the Phillies a chance.
"We know were capable, but its tough when you hit the ball hard and it goes right to someone, " Turner said. "But thats baseball. We just have to keep grinding and fighting. Tomorrow is win or go home, but we have the right group to get it done."
Castellanos echoed that sentiment: "We need to embrace the reality that if we lose, its over. But we also know that if we win, the Mets dont want to come back to Philly for a Game 5."
NEW YORK After a tough 7-2 loss to the Mets in Game 3 of the NL Division Series, Phillies manager Rob Thomson gathered his team in the clubhouse on Tuesday night to offer some words of encouragement.
He reminded them that the series isn't over yet and that they still have a chance.
"I told them this is the most resilient team I've ever been around, " Thomson said. "Theyve shown toughness and fight all season long, and thats what we need now. We just need to focus on winning one game. Thats all we can control right now."
The Phillies now trail the Mets 2-1 in the best-of-five series, and if they lose Game 4 on Wednesday, their postseason dreams will be overfar sooner than they expected after heading into Spring Training back in February.
Having made it to Game 6 of the 2022 World Series and Game 7 of the 2023 NLCS, the Phillies were hoping those postseason experiences would lead them to a championship run this year.
"For us https://www.philliesplayerfanstore.com/throwback-12, this is the closest we've ever been to being out, " Phillies right fielder Nick Castellanos said. "But in a way, it also makes us feel the most alive. We only have tomorrow. This is the moment weve been working for since Spring Training. Its one more chance to give everything weve got on the field."
However, things havent been going the Phillies' way. Their powerful offense has been quiet, with only a flurry of runs in the final innings of Game 2 to show for their efforts. The bullpen has struggled, allowing 12 runs in just nine innings, blowing leads, and turning close games into blowouts.
In Game 3, the Phillies hit three balls with exit velocities of 106.3 mph or higher in the first inningbut all three were caught for outs.
"Its tough when you make solid contact and dont get the results you expect, " Bryce Harper said. "Youre thinking those balls are going to lead to some damage, but sometimes thats just the way the game goes. Manaea pitched a great game today."
The Mets held a 2-0 lead going into the sixth inning when Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner walked to start the frame. Schwarber fell behind 0-2 but worked a walk, and Turner was walked on four consecutive pitches to load the bases.
Harper, who came into Game 3 with a career 1.024 postseason OPSthe third-best in MLB historywas poised to make an impact. But he struggled at the plate, striking out on three pitches, including two sliders that caught him off guard.
"That first pitch changeup looked like a good one to hit, but then he threw me a couple of sliders that threw me off, " Harper explained.
Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez added, "We had a plan for Harper, " though that didnt help prevent a poor at-bat from the slugger.
"I think he was trying to do too much, " Thomson said. "He was trying to carry the team on his shoulders, which is tough in that spot."
Nick Castellanos then lined into an inning-ending double play to end the threat.
"Disbelief? No, that's just baseball, " Castellanos said. "You just have to roll with it and keep going."
Things quickly unraveled from there. Aaron Nola loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth, and though Orion Kerkering induced a ground ball from Jose Iglesias, second baseman Edmundo Sosa bobbled the ball, allowing the Mets to extend their lead. Starling Marte followed with a two-run single to make it 4-0.
Manaea threw a perfect seventh inning on just seven pitches https://www.philliesplayerfanstore.com/kyle_schwarber_jersey-206, and the Mets added two more runs to stretch their lead to 6-0. It was a near-certain loss for the Phillies, who now face the possibility of being eliminated in Game 4.
The Phillies will turn to left-handed pitcher Ranger Surez in Game 4, though he hasnt pitched well since mid-June. However, Surez has been excellent in the postseason the past two years, and the Phillies are hoping he can regain that form at Citi Field.
The offense, however, needs to step up to give the Phillies a chance.
"We know were capable, but its tough when you hit the ball hard and it goes right to someone, " Turner said. "But thats baseball. We just have to keep grinding and fighting. Tomorrow is win or go home, but we have the right group to get it done."
Castellanos echoed that sentiment: "We need to embrace the reality that if we lose, its over. But we also know that if we win, the Mets dont want to come back to Philly for a Game 5."
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