Nola, Castellanos hoping to get back on track for postseason
ST. LOUIS — It had been 342 days since Aaron Nola dominated the Cardinals in Game 2 of the 2022 NL Wild Card Series. It was a masterful efficiency at Busch Stadium that punched the Phillies’ ticket to the NLDS and in the end the World Series.
It was Nola’s second good begin that week. He additionally pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings 5 days earlier in Houston to assist clinch a postseason berth.
The Phillies hope that model of Nola returns quickly. He allowed three runs (two earned) in 4 2/3 innings in Friday evening’s 5-4 victory over the Cardinals at Busch Stadium, giving them a 2 1/2-game lead over the Cubs for the No. 1 NL Wild Card with 15 video games to play.
“It sucks,” Nola mentioned about his early exit. “The bullpen is coming in too early when I’m pitching. I want to save those guys, especially at this time of the year. You don’t ever want to go five or below. It’s just the way it’s been the past few outings. I hope it turns around.”
Phillies supervisor Rob Thomson mentioned he trusts Nola will return to kind.
“Aaron Nola is a big-game pitcher,” he mentioned.
His teammates consider Nola will, too.
“His track record, he’s done it before, and we believe in him,” Phillies proper fielder Nick Castellanos mentioned. “He’s our teammate, every time he goes out on the bump, we believe that he’s going to give us a chance to win. Even though he didn’t have his best ‘stuff’ today, we won today’s game. He kept us in the game.”
Nola has pitched 4 2/3 or fewer innings in three consecutive begins for the primary time since June 11-26, 2016, when he made 4 consecutive begins of 4 2/3 or fewer innings. He struck out one batter Friday for less than the second time in his profession. He tied a season low with 5 swings and misses.
The Cardinals reached base 3 times on infield hits and twice on infield errors, together with one by Nola within the fourth that led to an unearned run. Nola discovered himself in bother so much. His pitch rely piled up, so with runners on first and second and two outs within the fifth, Thomson pulled him from the sport.
But the Phillies by no means trailed. Castellanos hit a three-run homer within the first inning because the Phillies took a 4-0 lead. Castellanos flied out to the warning observe in right-center subject within the fourth.
They have been good indicators for Castellanos, who has been struggling not too long ago.
“Hit and miss,” he mentioned about his current play.
It has been a season of extremes. Castellanos batted .316 with 12 dwelling runs, 54 RBIs and an .874 OPS by way of July 2, when he made the NL All-Star staff. It was an incredible accomplishment for Castellanos, who rebounded from a troublesome 2022.
He batted .122 with two homers, six RBIs and a .349 OPS in 22 video games from July 4-30. He rebounded to hit .293 with eight homers, 23 RBIs and an .860 OPS in 27 video games in August.
Then in his first 13 video games this month, he batted .192 with one homer, seven RBIs and a .573 OPS. Thomson on Sept. 9 put Castellanos eighth for the primary time since his second full season with Detroit.
“I’d probably say, if I had to grade myself, probably like a C+, B-, doing my job, taking a full season of at-bats, staying healthy,” Castellanos mentioned. “Am I thrilled about each side of my season personally? No, as a result of I do know that I hit durations of inconsistency, however nonetheless, I’m all the time an individual that’s going to attempt to get higher. And additionally, I’ve an unhealthy knack for by no means actually being happy with something that I do.
“Even after my ‘21 season, I remember driving home from Cincinnati with [his wife] Jess, just talking about all the areas I [messed] up in.”
People overlook these issues with large postseason performances. October is simply across the nook. There is time for Nola and Castellanos to get on observe. Castellanos would possibly’ve taken that step ahead Friday. Nola hopes it begins subsequent week.
Just so long as it occurs.
