Phillies right fielder Nick Castellanos kept it short and sweet when talking about how the Phillies will respond after the team's 5-4 loss to the Atlanta Braves in Game 2 of the 2023 NLDS.
"We thrive after we get punched in the face," Castellanos said. "That's all it is. Good, it stings. And we'll take it and make it motivate us moving forward."
Castellanos went 2/4 with a walk in the contest, and was at the center of the action on the game's final play as his deep fly ball out led to a game-ending double play with Bryce Harper failing to return to first base safely. That play, along with seemingly every moment in the game's final three innings, fell the Braves' way as the Phillies' division rival stole the Game 2 win.
What especially plagued the Phillies and led to yet another blown 4-0 lead in the playoffs (think Cliff Lee circa 2011), in addition to the Braves' two back-breaking two-run home runs, was the team's inability to deliver with runners in scoring position. The Phillies went a combined 2/8 in those situations, with a startling 11 total runners left on base.
Then there was the costly error from Trea Turner in the 7th and the remarkable play by Braves centerfielder Michael Harris to end the game. It is an especially-stinging loss to even the series at 1-1.
Castellanos and the Phillies must now regroup before hosting Game 3 of the series at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday night.