The Philadelphia Phillies might not say they were "shocked," but their expressions told a different story. They were deep in thought in their clubhouse, reflecting on the missed opportunities. They lost the final game of the National League Championship Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks with a score of 4-2 on Tuesday evening.
Nick Castellanos, the right fielder for the Phillies, expressed his disappointment, saying, "We underachieved as a team." He found the conclusion of the season to be quite upsetting.
Castellanos had a challenging series for Philadelphia, not registering a hit in his last 20 attempts during the concluding six matches. Both he and some of his teammates expressed disappointment over their individual and team performances.
Despite holding a 3-2 lead in the series after playing in Arizona, the Phillies unfortunately lost both Games 6 and 7 on their home ground.
The Phillies team had an inconsistent performance. Even though they managed to score 10 runs in the second game, they could only accumulate 4 runs over 3 games they lost. In the decisive Game 7, their record was not impressive either.
They secured only 1 hit out of 10 attempts when they had runners in a favorable scoring position. This statistic places them among the bottom five teams in terms of batting average for such crucial games since the year 1990.
During the seventh inning, a critical point emerged. With two players on base and two out, Bryce Harper stepped up to bat.
This opportunity had the potential to push the Phillies closer to the World Series. Meanwhile, the enthusiasm of the Philadelphia supporters could have reached an all-time high in the audience.
Castellanos faced difficulties throughout the series, with his performance declining over time. In the pivotal Game 7, during the fourth inning, there was a moment when Philadelphia had an opportunity to take a strong lead.
However, Castellanos failed to capitalize and struck out, leaving two teammates on base. Consequently, the Phillies couldn't score despite having the bases full.
A year after their World Series loss, the Phillies couldn't even make it back. Even after leading 2-0 and then 3-2 in the series, they needed just one more victory at home to progress.
Nola's most vivid recollection might be from Game 6, when he was pulled after allowing four runs in slightly over four innings. As he faced inquiries, his expression was vacant, and he seemed to lack explanations.
Harper stated, "We'll be back. We have a supportive owner and a president along with a general manager who are committed to giving us the best oppurtunity to succeed each year. "I wish I could have contributed more. I had hoped to deliver that significant performance."