Phillies strike back at Mets in dogfight NLDS: 'Never experienced anything like it'

PHILADELPHIA — Kyle Schwarber hurriedly packed his duffle bag in the Philadelphia Phillies clubhouse Sunday night, knowing they had a train to catch, and a series to win, but suddenly stopped, took a sip of his drink, and paused to reflect on just what in the world had just transpired.

Schwarber has more postseason experience than anyone on the field, playing in 67 postseason games and 19 series spanning nine years, including the Chicago Cubs’ 2016 World Series championship season.

Still, he didn’t even hesitate, and blurted the words that echoed throughout the clubhouse.

“This," Schwarber said, “was one of the greatest games I’ve even played in.

“I can’t wait to watch it again."

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And this time, he’ll be able to actually relax and enjoy it.

The Phillies and New York Mets went toe-to-toe for nine innings, had four blown leads, six home runs, 21 hits and eight runs off All-Star relievers, finally ending when the guy who was viciously booed by his home fans became the hero for all of Philadelphia to embrace.

Nick Castellanos saved the Phillies’ season in the ninth inning with a two-out, two-strike, RBI single, giving the Phillies a wild 7-6 victory over the New York Mets in one of the greatest postseason victories in franchise history.

“To respond the way we did, wow,’’ Schwarber said. “They hit back. And we respond. They hit back and we respond. It was a slugfest all of the time. It was an opportune moment, opportune hitting, two-out hitting.

“That’s baseball. That’s the beautiful thing about this game. That’s why this game is awesome."

The Phillies’ victory ties the best-of-five National League Division Series at 1-apiece with Game 3 scheduled Tuesday at Citi Field in New York, where the Mets last played on Sept. 22 before going to Atlanta, Milwaukee, back to Atlanta, back to Milwaukee and Philadelphia .

“The energy is awesome here," said Mets third baseman Mark Vientos, who nearly led the Mets to the victory with two home runs and four RBI, including a game-tying, two-run homer in the ninth. “I can’t wait to go back to Citi Field and play in front of our fans.”

The raucous atmosphere and the crowd noise was insane at Citizens Bank Park, and by the time the 45,679 fans went home Sunday evening, they may have been more exhausted than the players.

“I’ve never experienced anything like it," said Phillies outfielder Kody Clemens, the son of seven-time Cy Young winner Roger Clemens. “I’m not sure I’ve seen anything like it even with my Dad. I can’t wait to ask him what he thought about it."

There were so many highs and lows throughout the afternoon and evening that it was hard to keep track. One minute, the Mets are up 3-0 in the sixth inning, only to be tied, 3-3, in a matter of three pitches with homers by Bryce Harper and Castellanos.

The Mets go back up 4-3 in the top of the seventh on Brandon Nimmo’s homer, only to fall behind 5-4 in the bottom of the eighth on Bryson Scott’s two-run triple off Mets closer Edwin Diaz, which became a 6-4 game on J.T. Realmuto’s fielder’s choice.

“What a hell of a [bleeping] swing on that quality closer right there," Schwarber said.

Phillies reliever Matt Strahm comes out in the ninth inning to close out the game, and suddenly is watching Vientos hit a game-tying two-run homer, leaving the crowd groaning.

Along comes the bottom of the ninth, and there’s back-to-back two-out walks to Trea Turner and Harper, and on an 0-and-2 pitch, Castellanos produces his third consecutive hit and the fifth-walk off hit of the season.

“I feel at times you don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel," Turner said, “and then stuff starts to happen. You see some things go your way, and you feel like you’re in the driver’s seat. The thing you know, it’s taken from you again.

“That’s what we expect with them. … There’s no quit in them, and there’s no quit in our dugout as well."

Said Nimmo: “Just an amazing game, an amazing game."

This is the first time the Phillies and Mets have ever met in the postseason, and Castellanos’ walk-off was the first for the Phillies in the postseason since Jimmy Rollins in the 2009 National League Championship Series.

“It was crazy," Strahm said. “I’m just sitting [in front of my locker] when I came out, and then hear that roar, with the whole place rumbling. It was unbelievable.

“It’s everything you dream of as a kid. Every kid in Philly is going to pretend that he’s Bryce Harper. These fans make it 10 times better every time we’re out there. I’ve never experienced like a place like Citizens Bank. You’ve got to come here to experience it."

Certainly, these intense crowds aren’t for the weak. You’ve got to have thick skin and an awfully short memory.

In the seventh with the Phillies still being shut down by starter Luis Severino, losing 3-0, the Mets decided to go ahead and pitch to Harper with two outs and Turner on first base. Harper, on a 2-and-2 count, abruptly woke up the crowd with a 431-foot homer over the center-field. Two pitches later, Castellanos sent an 86.4 mph slider over the left-field fence, tying the game, and those boos vanished into the night.

“I was just frustrated," Castellanos said, “so I guess I locked in more."

The crowd suddenly was alive, and so were the Phillies.

“It was sick,’’ Harper said. “The best fan base in the world, man. They continue to fight for us, and we fight for them. We’re not just fighting for 25 guys in here. We’re fighting for everyone."

The Phillies had plenty of heroes throughout the game but in the end, none bigger than Castellanos

“Nick doesn’t get bothered by much," Schwarber said. “I don’t know if he took the [boos] personally, but you know what, he came up big for us."

Said Stott: “I feel like every walk-off hit is Nick. He’s Nick Castellanos. He’s a professional hitter and he’s hit his whole career."

Now, the series heads to New York, where the Mets will get reacquainted with Citi Field, and will have their own fans doing the screaming and taunting the Phillies.

“I expect that to be a pretty hostile environment," Harper said, smiling. “We’re looking forward to that."

So, of course, is everyone else.

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