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Phillies vs. Mets score: Nick Castellanos lifts Philly to thrilling NLDS-tying win in instant playoff classic

Nick Castellanos hit a walk-off single in a game that featured four lead changes in the final four innings

We got ourselves a series in the NLDS. The Philadelphia Phillies got a walk-off single from Nick Castellanos to beat the New York Mets, 7-6, on Sunday evening and even the best-of-five series 1-1. It was the Phillies' first walk-off playoff win since 2009.

Game 2 was a thriller. The game featured four lead changes in the final four innings. The Phillies trailed, 4-3, heading into the eighth inning and got a go-ahead triple from Bryson Stott to take the lead. 

But the Mets -- who have had multiple late-inning rallies in their hectic last week -- tied the game on Mark Vientos' two-run homer off lefty Matt Strahm.

Trea Turner and Bryce Harper drew two-out walks from Tylor Megill before Castellanos lined a single to left to end it.

The Mets, who erupted for a five-run eighth inning in Game 1, got on the board first Sunday as Vientos hit a two-run home run off Phillies starter Cristopher Sánchez in the third inning. Vientos ended the game with two home runs, one double and four RBI. Pete Alonso made it 3-0 Mets in the sixth with a home run to right field.

The Phillies were quieted by Mets starter Luis Severino for 5 2/3 innings. But things got loud in a hurry in the sixth. Bryce Harper hit a two-run home run after Trea Turner singled, and Nick Castellanos followed it up with a solo shot of his own to tie the game.

CBS Sports will have more on this breaking news story soon.

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Phillies walk-off with 7-6 win over Mets in Game 2

After Mark Vientos tied it with a two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning, Nick Castellanos won it for the Phillies with a walk-off single in the bottom half. What a riveting back-and-forth game. Here is the game-winning knock:

The Citizens Bank Park crowd booed Castellanos earlier in Game 2, after he swung and missed at two sliders out of the zone. The commonwealth owes that man an apology. Castellanos hit a game-tying homer in the sixth and then walked it off in the ninth.

New York controlled Game 2 in the early innings. Vientos slugged a two-run home run against Cristopher Sánchez in the third and Pete Alonso added a solo shot in sixth. The Phillies tied the game when Bryce Harper and Castellanos hit back-to-back homers in the bottom of the sixth. That finally -- finally -- brought the Citizens Bank Park crowd to life.

This Mets team doesn't quit though, and in the half-inning after the Phillies tied the game, Brandon Nimmo regained the lead for New York with a solo homer. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza asked Edwin Díaz for a seven-out save, or at least asked him to escape a seventh-inning jam and get through the top of the lineup in the eighth.

Díaz was able to strike out Kyle Schwarber to strand two runners in the seventh inning. The Phillies got to him in the eighth though. Harper walked, Castellanos singled, then Bryson Stott tripled into the corner to score two runs. Vientos and Castellanos then traded body blows in the ninth to decide the game. What a thriller.

Philadelphia's Game 2 win evens the NLDS at one win apiece. The best-of-five series is now a best-of-three. Game 3 is Tuesday at Citi Field. Veterans Aaron Nola and Sean Manaea are the scheduled starting pitchers.

 

Phillies win 7-6

Castellanos rockets a ball down the left-field line. Series is tied at 1-1.

 

First and second, one out. A single wins it with Turner's speed.

 

Harper walks. Two on, but only one matters. Castellanos up.

 

Megill walks Turner to bring up Harper. We'll see how that one plays out.

 

Important to note: no ghost runner/Manfred Man/whatever in the playoffs.

 

We're an out away from free baseball in Philadelphia.

 

Nimmo being attended to after colliding with VIentos in left field.

 

Vientos ties it up

The Mets' relentless knack for the comeback manifested itself again in the ninth inning of Game 2 against the Phillies on Sunday. Down 6-4, slugging third baseman Mark Vientos came through with a clutch two-run homer off Matt Strahm:

It's 6-6 in Philly, and Game 2 is looking like a instant classic no matter how it turns out. 

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Strahm is in for the ninth

Phillies will attempt to even this best-of-five series at 1-apiece heading into Monday's travel day.

 

Stott gives the Phillies the lead with a triple

Bryson Stott has given the Phillies their first lead of the day here in the eighth inning, tripling off Edwin Díaz with runners at the corners and one down. Both runners scored, of course, turning a 4-3 deficit into a 5-4 edge with just three defensive outs remaining for the Phillies to record.

Here it is:

The Mets subsequently went to the bullpen again, summoning Tylor Megill. Megill generated weak infield contact off J.T. Realmuto's bat, but Mark Vientos was unable to harness it and Stott scored to make it 6-4.

 

Tylor Megill takes over after Edwin Díaz coughs up the lead to Bryson Stott.

 

Civic apology for those Castellanos boos earlier is now in order. 

 

The Phillies are in business. Runners on first and second with one out. Díaz is approaching 20 pitches. Bryson Stott up.

 

Big-time matchup here.

 

Díaz has never had a seven-out save. I don't think Carlos Mendoza will push him that far today. But maybe...

 

Was it a swing?

Here's the side-view of Schwarber: 
 

Díaz escapes

Make it 0 for 9 with 7 K for Schwarber against the Mets closer. The inning-ending strike three came on a check swing call. It looks to me like Schwarber went here, but it is close:

The Phillies had two on when Schwarber struck out to end the inning. I suppose the good news for them is Díaz is already in the game and is unlikely to go for the full seven-out save. Next inning is when things have to happen though. Turner and Harper are coming up.

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I looked that up and then the broadcast said it like five seconds later. That's what I get for not procrastinating.

 

Schwarber is 0 for 8 with 6 K against Díaz lifetime.

 

 Díaz is good against the opposite side, but I'm not sure about letting Schwarber face a right-hander here, even if he's a closer. 

 

Have to think Díaz is coming in now.

Update: There he is.

 

Playing with fire if you have a high leverage reliever named Buttó.

 

It's the seventh inning and Edwin Díaz is already warming up.

 

Not-so-bold prediction: This game will not end 4-3.

 

Mets counterpunch, take back lead

The Mets blew a 3-0 lead, and then in the next half inning they reclaimed it. They did so via this clutch solo homer from Brandon Nimmo: 

Late-inning dramatics have been the Mets' calling card this September/October, and this is no exception (provided you consider the seventh one of those late innings and not a late-middle inning -- you decide). During the regular season, Nimmo wasn't quite up to his usual standards with the bat, but with 23 homers the power was still there. It was certainly there on Sunday when the Mets needed it most. 

 

The Mets are only comfortable if they have to stage a comeback. All part of the plan.

 

Kerkering is in to start the seventh/face the top of the New York lineup.

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Bryce Harper, playoff masher

As of that last blast, Bryce Harper in 51 career playoff games has a slash line of .280/.389/.629 with 17 home runs. That's elite production when it matters most. 

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