Castellanos makes postseason history with another multihomer game
Christina De Nicola
@cdenicola13PHILADELPHIA -- Phillies right fielder Nick Castellanos has made it no secret he wants a ring, and he¡¯s doing everything possible to make it a reality.
Castellanos became the first player in AL/NL history to record consecutive multihomer postseason games, powering the Phillies to an NLDS-clinching 3-1 victory on Thursday night in Game 4 against the Braves.
"We know how important momentum is in these postseason games," Castellanos said. "So anytime that you feel it may be swinging in the other direction, we do a very good job of locking it in to get the momentum back in our favor. That's important to our team."
Castellanos¡¯ power surge against Atlanta right-hander Spencer Strider began in the fourth, when he jumped on a first-pitch hanging slider with one out to even the score at 1.
His sixth-inning solo shot with two outs not only extended Philadelphia¡¯s lead to 3-1 but also chased Strider, sending the Citizens Bank Park crowd of 45,831 into a frenzy. Castellanos had turned around Strider¡¯s middle-middle 100 mph fastball, marking the fastest pitch he has taken deep in his career.?
Upon his return to the dugout, Castellanos received a curtain call and acknowledged the home fans, which included his son Liam, with a wave.
"Baseball is my job, and it takes me away from him more than I would like it to," Castellanos said of his son. "So to be able to -- for him to be able to come and be next to me and be a part of this, I mean he's been at the house when I've sucked. He's been at the house when I've done well. He's been at the house during so many different times of my career throughout his life. So for him to be able to be next to me and witness all of it, I think, is good for his maturation in the future. So as close as I can keep him to me, you know, is always going to make me happier."
The adulation continued as Castellanos set out for right field for the top of the seventh, as he raised both of his arms in appreciation to the Phillies¡¯ faithful.
"Whenever you see that many people giving you an acknowledgment in a positive favor, I mean, there's not really a lot of words that are going to be able to capture that feeling, but it's special," Castellanos said.