Nick Castellanos hit a game-winning single with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, helping the Philadelphia Phillies come from behind to defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 on Saturday.
Kyle Schwarber also hit a home run for the Phillies, while Alec Bohm contributed with an RBI. “It felt good because I knew it was enough to score a run,” said Castellanos. Pittsburgh’s Oneil Cruz hit a home run during the game.
In the ninth inning, Schwarber started with a single, and Trea Turner walked, putting runners on first and second with no outs. Both runners moved up a base on a wild pitch.
After striking out Bryce Harper, Pirates manager Derek Shelton replaced pitcher Jose Hernandez with Roansy Contreras. Bohm was intentionally walked to load the bases before Castellanos hit the winning single over center fielder Jack Suwinski.
Castellanos, who had been struggling at the plate, raised his batting average to .182 with this hit. He approached the final at-bat with a simple mindset.
“I didn’t have a plan,” he said. “I was just ready to hit. I just wanted to win the game. See the ball, hit the ball. I had a chance to win the game, and it made me focus on that simplicity.”
Jeff Hoffman pitched the ninth inning without letting any runs score, ending a great performance by Philadelphia’s relief pitchers. They struck out seven batters, walked only one, and gave up just one hit in five innings after Spencer Turnbull, the starting pitcher, left the game. Hoffman praised his teammates, saying they were fantastic during the game.
The game took place on a chilly and windy day in Philadelphia. Even though the temperature was around 60 degrees, fans were bundled up in sweatshirts and jackets, making it feel more like a cold November football game.
Philadelphia tied the game in the seventh inning thanks to an RBI single from Alec Bohm off Aroldis Chapman, who had some difficulty pitching. Chapman walked Kyle Schwarber at the beginning of the inning.
Schwarber then advanced to second base on a passed ball, which was initially called a wild pitch. He was on his way to third base when Trea Turner grounded out. Chapman then walked Bryce Harper, putting runners on the corners before Bohm’s single.
Ke’Bryan Hayes’ double in the first inning gave the Pirates a 1-0 lead. However, Schwarber hit a home run to deep left-center field at the start of the Phillies’ first inning, marking his 33rd career leadoff homer and his 20th with the Phillies.
“Just threw it too much over the plate,” commented Pirates pitcher Marco Gonzales about the pitch. A single from Castellanos later in the first inning gave Philadelphia the lead. Cruz hit a two-run homer to the opposite side of the field in left during the fifth inning off Turnbull, putting the Pirates ahead 3-2.
Gonzales pitched well for six innings, giving up two runs on six hits. He has an ERA of 2.65 in three starts. “It’s just about having confidence, confidence in our plan for the game,” he said.
After Turnbull allowed three runs in four innings and three batters, Matt Strahm, Gregory Soto, José Alvarado, and Hoffman prevented Pittsburgh from scoring.
The game slowed down in the seventh inning when Soto had trouble with the audio communication device in his hat. After three mound visits and trying three different devices, second baseman Edmundo Sosa loaned Soto his device, and the game continued.
