The New York Mets have some kind of ridiculous magical aura around them this fall. Comeback after comeback has propelled them to one of the top stories in the 2024 MLB playoffs, and it happened again in Game 1 of the NLDS. Grimace, OMG, pumpkins? It has been enough to make Philadelphia Phillies fans sick.
On Sunday, in Game 2 of the NLDS, the second-best team in baseball this season said enough is enough and stole the Mets' magic for a dramatic win of their own.
The Phillies trailed 3-0 to the plucky and gimmicky Mets before something magical happened to save the Phillies' season. To be honest, the Phillies looked done. The energy had been sapped from Citizens Bank Park by a limp Phillies offense, and Mark Vientos and Pete Alonso home runs.
Nick Castellanos, Bryce Harper, Bryson Stott steal Mets' magic and rescue Phillies' season in Game 2
It began with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
There wasn't much hope to be found among the faithful even after a Trea Turner two-out single in the sixth off of Mets starter Luis Severino. But then Bryce Harper came to the plate. The Phillies' superstar, and author of unforgettable clutch moments at The Bank in the previous two postseasons, mashed a 99 mph fastball 431 feet to right field for a two-run homer. Now down 3-2, Harper had infused life back into the Phillies, and the fans.
BACK#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/zv4zvNZSH3
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 6, 2024
Nick Castellanos, who had been booed and jeered during a horrid fourth-inning at-bat, followed up with a no-doubt solo home run to left field to tie the game at 3-3.
And just like that, the Phillies' season had been saved from the brink of disaster.
After losing some steam thanks to a Brandon Nimmo home run in the seventh, another hero emerged for the Phillies in the eighth. Bryson Stott, who, by all accounts, had a down season at the plate, came through when the Phillies needed it the most, smacking a well-placed ball down the right field line for a two-run go-ahead triple.
Who did he drive in? Harper and Castellanos, of course. Stott himself scored on the next at-bat to make it 6-4, with J.T. Realmuto bouncing a ball to third that Vientos bobbled in an effort to rush a play to the plate.
What. a. moment. pic.twitter.com/nuTXqMt96Q
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 6, 2024
It looked like the Phillies were free and clear, with Matt Strahm called upon to get three outs in the ninth. Instead, for the second game in a row, the lefty couldn't get the job done, giving up a deflating, game-tying two-run home run to Vientos. It marked the first time he had allowed runs in back-to-back outings all season.
But then the real dramatics began.
With two out in the bottom of the ninth, Turner came through with another big at-bat, drawing a walk to get Harper to the plate one last time. After crushing a ball into the right field corner that barely went foul, he took a walk. The Mets were obviously willing to gamble on Castellanos rather than allow the two-time MVP to beat them.
Castellanos, the man who had been the focus of the fans' derision earlier in the game lined a single to left field, easily scoring Turner from second. Just like that, with a 7-6 walk-off win, the Phillies created magic of their own.
FEELING GR8 pic.twitter.com/rDBIN8t7W9
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 6, 2024
Castellanos, with his fifth walk-off hit of the season, and fifth walk-off in Phillies postseason history, according to MLB.com's Paul Casella, put the Fightins right back in the series. They now head to Citi Field tied 1-1 in the best-of-five showdown.
More importantly, there's belief again in Philadelphia.