Final Score: Phillies 6, Mariners 5
There were quite a few times during the 2022 season where Nick Castellanos struggled, but his Philadelphia Phillies teammates picked him up and the club earned a win.
Fast forward a year and Castellanos is off to a scorching-hot start at the plate in 2023, and another strong performance from the former Silver Slugger Award winner helped the Phillies to a comeback victory over the Seattle Mariners Wednesday.
Castellanos got the scoring started in the bottom of the first, crushing a two-run home run 392 feet to right-center field:
For Castellanos, it was his third home run in four games. In a win over the Colorado Rockies last Saturday, the slugging outfielder homered twice, his first two home runs (regular or postseason) since Aug. 27 of last season.
The 2-0 lead was short-lived for the Phillies, as three straight Mariners reached base with two outs against Taijuan Walker in the top of the second. And former Phillies first-round pick J.P. Crawford promptly unloaded the bases with a grand slam into the Phillies bullpen:
Julio RodrÃguez followed with a home run of his own, a 404-foot solo shot to left-center field:
The Phillies got a run back in the bottom of the third inning on an RBI single from Kyle Schwarber that plated Edmundo Sosa. With that said, they missed out on the chance to do more damage with Castellanos and Brandon Marsh grounding out, ultimately stranding two runners in scoring position.
Castellanos would add his third RBI of the game in the home half of the fifth, singling into center field through relatively heavy rain to score Bryson Stott.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Castellanos and Marsh led off the inning with singles off of reliever Justin Topa. J.T. Realmuto then scalded a ball at second baseman Kolten Wong — a two-time Gold Glove Award winner — who let the ball eat him up and go into center field:
That turned a potential double play into an RBI single, leaving the Phillies with two runners on base. Alec Bohm immediately capitalized, giving the Phillies a lead and sending Topa to the showers:
José Alvarado came on for the save in the ninth, and while he allowed a two-out double from Crawford, the 27-year-old ultimately recorded his fourth save of the season.
With the win, the Phillies improve to 12-13. Meanwhile, the Mariners — who ended an even longer playoff drought than the Phillies last year — are 11-13 after the loss.
Matt Strahm will get the ball Wednesday afternoon, as the Phillies wrap up this series and homestand with a matinee.
Shibe Vintage Sports Notes
- Taijuan Walker struggled mightily Wednesday, allowing five runs over just four innings. The Mariners hit four balls above 100 mph in exit velocity off of Walker, two of which left the yard. The veteran right-handers ERA now sits at 4.97. He ultimately departed the game with right forearm tightness.
- Logan Gilbert wasn’t especially sharp either, surrendering seven hits and four runs over five innings.
- With his eighth-inning single, Brandon Marsh‘s on-base streak is now at 21 games.
- 32,641 was the attendance at Citizens Bank Park for the second tilt in this three-game set.
Ticket IQ Next Game
- Thursday, April 27 vs. Mariners at Citizens Bank Park
- 1:05 p.m. ET
- TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
- Spanish Radio: WTTM 1680
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