Phillies one defeat from elimination after 7-2 loss to Mets in Game 3 of NLDS

NEW YORK (AP) — Six months of success for the Philadelphia Phillies could be wiped out before the leaves start to turn.

With one more loss to the New York Mets, a 95-win regular season would become an afterthought.

“As a group this is the closest to death we’re ever going to get, so in a way, we should feel the most alive," Nick Castellanos said after Tuesday night's 7-2 loss dropped the Phillies into a 2-1 deficit in the best-of-five NL Division Series. “It’s just one more time to chill out and leave everything on the field and however the dice is going to land, it’s going to land.”

Philadelphia is one defeat from taking another step backward. Seeking their third World Series title after 1980 and 2008, the Phillies reached Game 6 of the World Series in 2022 before losing to Houston. They took a 3-2 lead over Arizona in last year’s NL Championship Series, and then dropped Games 6 and 7 at home.

Castellanos spoke in a clubhouse so quiet the showers trickling in the next room sounded like waterfalls.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson addressed the team after the final out.

“I told them it’s the most resilient club I’ve ever been around,” he recounted. “That’s what they’re all about. They’re all about toughness and fighting and playing together. That’s what we need to do and just focus on one game.”

Philadelphia fell behind 2-0 in Game 3 in New York on home runs by Pete Alonso in the second and Jesse Winker in the fourth off Aaron Nola.

Sean Manaea breezed through five innings for the Mets, but he lost his control momentarily and started the sixth with walks to Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner.

Bryce Harper struck out on three pitches.

"First pitch, changeup. I thought it was a really good pitch to hit, and then he threw me two banger sliders," Harper said.

Thomson saw it this way: “Just the situation, when he’s trying to do too much, trying to get the club — put the club on his shoulders,” the manager said.

Castellanos lined to second baseman Jose Iglesias, who flipped to shortstop Francisco Lindor to double up Schwarber for an inning-ending double play.

“He threw me a good changeup away. I stayed on and I barreled it,” Castellanos said. “A little bit to the left, a little bit to the right, first and third, run scores.”

That started a stretch in which the Phillies made six outs in 13 pitches, part of an offense hitting .204 through three playoff games against New York.

Philadelphia's evening began with promise: While Schwarber, Turner and Harper were retired in order, they all hit balls more than 106 mph.

Nola left with the bases loaded and no outs in the sixth, and Starling Marte's two-run, two-out single off Orion Kerkering opened a four-run lead. The Phillies trailed 6-0 before Harper and Castellanos hit RBI singles in the eighth.

Attention turned to Game 4 on Wednesday, when Philadelphia's Ranger Suárez starts against Jose Quintana. While Suárez is 3-1 with a 1.62 ERA in seven postseason starts and two relief appearances, he was 0-2 with an 8.25 ERA in his last three regular-season outings.

“We’re in October now so it’s a different atmosphere, a different vibe,” he said.

A leadoff homer by Schwarber in the opener is the only run in the series for Philadelphia in the first five innings. He said Thomson's message resonated.

“We have confidence in ourselves and we have confidence in this group, that this is a very talented club and that we’ve been through a lot of different things,” Schwarber said. “This is just another challenge, right? And for us, it's to come together and find a way to win a game and get back to Philadelphia.”

Game 5 would be Friday at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies' 54-27 home record topped the big leagues.

“If we’re able to come in and scrape out a win here, I know that they do not want to go back to Philly for a Game 5,” Castellanos said.

This story makes a correction in the 13th paragraph to note that Castellanos lined out to second base, not shortstop.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola is relieved by manager Rob Thomson during the sixth inning of Game 3 of the National League baseball playoff series against the New York Mets, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Philadelphia Phillies' Trea Turner (7) connects for an RBI single against the New York Mets during the eighth inning of Game 3 of the National League baseball playoff series, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson (59) watches play against the New York Mets from the dugout during the fourth inning of Game 3 of the National League baseball playoff series, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Philadelphia Phillies' Bryce Harper (3) reacts after striking out against the New York Mets during the sixth inning of Game 3 of the National League baseball playoff series, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola (27) leaves the game during the sixth inning of Game 3 of the National League baseball playoff series against the New York Mets, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah Hockey Club wasted no effort creating a playoff-like atmosphere for its inaugural regular season game on Tuesday night.

The NHL’s newest franchise surrounded its home opener against the Chicago Blackhawks with a fan celebration leading up to the puck drop and beyond. An outdoor concert featuring country music artist Shaboozey highlighted the pregame celebration.

The festivities culminated in an outdoor watch party for fans who did not have tickets to enter the Delta Center. Two giant screens aired the ESPN broadcast.

Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen skated out the ceremonial puck and handed it to Utah Hockey Club and Jazz owner Ryan Smith. Ashley Smith dropped the puck for Utah Captain Clayton Keller and Chicago Captain Nick Foligno before the game.

“We’re just trying to have a fun event that everybody in the community is going to remember,” Ryan Smith said. “It’s not more complicated than that. This is a moment that speaks for itself. Everyone knows it’s coming. We get to do it once.”

The atmosphere inside and outside the arena was electric through the night, mirroring the experience already common at Utah Jazz playoff games.

“It’s unbelievable,” said Sean Cassity, a new Utah Hockey Club season ticket holder. “So much excitement. Everyone is jacked for the Utah Hockey Club to get here.”

ESPN hosted an entire day of tripleheader hockey coverage from a set in front of the arena. The network featured on-set interviews with Smith and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and covered Utah players coming out of the tunnel for the first skate.

Utah goaltender Karel Vejmelka wore a body camera during morning skate, and footage was used by ESPN during studio segments. The camera was first used during Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final when Florida Panthers backup goaltender Anthony Stolarz wore one.

“Without question we were looking at Utah as an opportunity for opening night,” said Linda Schulz, who leads ESPN’s NHL Productions. “This is one of those easy ones because it’s an opportunity for the league, the team and ESPN. Having them on opening night was without question immediately interesting and something that we all worked toward.”

Fans are eagerly embracing a second major professional franchise in Utah. The lone preseason contest between Utah and the Los Angeles Kings in September drew 11,131 fans. Capacity will expand to accommodate 17,000 for hockey games once renovations are completed.

Utah has sold approximately 8,500 full-season-ticket equivalents. 34,000 people initially put down a deposit for tickets. The club is already tracking toward being among the top 20 NHL clubs for sponsorship and ticket revenue this season.

All signs point to hockey becoming the next big thing for residents of the Beehive State.

“I’ve been wanting to pick a sport that’s my sport and so when the hockey club came here, I said, ‘That’s it. This is the one. We’re gonna learn everything and we’re gonna be the biggest fans,’” Utah Hockey Club fan Makae Wright said.

AP sportswriter Joe Reedy contributed to this report.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Utah Hockey Club center Clayton Keller (9) warms up prior to the NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Spenser Heaps)

Utah Hockey Club defenseman Michael Kesselring (7) moves the puck against Chicago Blackhawks left wing Patrick Maroon (77) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Spenser Heaps)