Nick Castellanos made history by hitting multiple home runs in consecutive postseason games, leading the Philadelphia Phillies to a 3-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves in Game 4 of the NL Division Series. This win eliminated the Braves from the playoffs for the second year in a row.
The Phillies clinched the series when Matt Strahm struck out Vaughn Grissom with runners on base. The team celebrated with fireworks and the ringing of the Liberty Bell, looking to defend their National League championship title.
In the eighth inning, Bryce Harper injured his surgically repaired right elbow in a collision at first base. However, after a quick examination from the medical staff, he stayed in the game and played in the ninth inning.
Trea Turner contributed with two singles, a double, and a solo home run in the fifth inning, giving the Phillies a 2-1 lead. The team is now aiming for their first World Series title since 2008.
The Phillies will face the Arizona Diamondbacks in the upcoming all-wild card NLCS. This will be the Diamondbacks’ first trip to the NLCS since 2007.
The first game of the NLCS will take place on Monday in Philadelphia.
Before defeating the Braves, the Phillies overcame some challenges. In the seventh inning, rookie center fielder Johan Rojas made a crucial defensive play, preventing the Braves from taking the lead. With the bases loaded, Rojas ran down a deep drive to left-center, denying Ronald Acuña Jr. an extra-base hit.
The Phillies followed a similar path to last year’s NLCS, with a Wild Card Series sweep, a win in Game 1 on the road, and a loss in Game 2. They then returned home and dominated with a six-run third inning in Game 3. This year, it was another display of power hitting that secured their victory over the Braves, showcasing their consistent performance against their NL East rival.
The Braves are not the only top teams to face early playoff elimination. The five teams with the best regular-season records – Braves, Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Dodgers, Tampa Bay Rays, and Milwaukee Brewers – all failed to reach the NLCS.
The star of the night was Nick Castellanos, the Phillies’ All-Star right fielder. He became the first player in baseball history to hit multiple home runs in consecutive playoff games. Castellanos’ second home run sealed the victory in Game 4, knocking Braves starter Spencer Strider out of the game.
Manager Rob Thomson decided to rely on starter Ranger Suárez and a group of hard-throwing relief pitchers to secure the win. This tactic had already worked in Game 1, where Suárez allowed only one hit before the bullpen took over. In this game, Suárez delivered three hitless innings before allowing a home run to Austin Riley in the fourth.
The Phillies are known for their comeback abilities, and they lived up to their reputation once again. Castellanos hit a solo home run to tie the game at 1-1, pointing to his young son, Liam, as he crossed the plate. Liam had been present at the ballpark for most of the summer, and his father’s performance in the postseason was all the more meaningful.
Philadelphia fans and the team now have at least one more round together as they aim to win the NLCS.
Highlights of the Game:
Michael Harris II, the Braves’ center fielder, made impressive defensive plays in Game 2 and Game 4. On this occasion, he made a sliding catch that resulted in Castellanos getting doubled off at second base.
Up Next:
The Phillies will have three days off before the start of the NLCS.
The Braves have struggled in elimination games, losing 10 out of their last 11. They will need to reflect on their performance after yet another disappointing postseason.
