Philly Leader

Phillies manager Rob Thomson addressed his team at Citi Field following a 7-2 loss to the Mets in Game 3 of the National League Division Series. The defeat puts New York ahead 2-1 in the best-of-five series. "I told them it’s the most resilient club I’ve ever been around," said Thomson. He emphasized the need for toughness and teamwork, focusing on winning one game at a time.

If Philadelphia loses Game 4 on Wednesday, their season will end sooner than anticipated. The Phillies reached significant stages in previous seasons, making it to Game 6 of the 2022 World Series and Game 7 of the 2023 NL Championship Series. They viewed these experiences as steps toward success this year.

Right fielder Nick Castellanos remarked, "Well, as a group, this is the closest to death we’re ever going to get." He added that they should feel alive with only tomorrow promised and urged his teammates to leave everything on the field.

The Phillies have struggled offensively and defensively during this series. Their bullpen has allowed multiple runs, turning small deficits into larger ones. In Game 3, despite some strong hits early on, they failed to capitalize against Mets pitcher Sean Manaea.

Bryce Harper expressed frustration over missed opportunities but acknowledged Manaea's performance: "Obviously whenever you take good swings and get outs, it’s the way of the game sometimes." Harper struck out during a critical moment in Game 3 after entering with a notable postseason OPS record.

Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez commented on their strategy against Harper: "We really have a plan on Harper." Despite Harper's attempts, he was unable to break through during crucial at-bats.

Aaron Nola struggled in Game 3's sixth inning when bases were loaded due to an error by Edmundo Sosa. Starling Marte then hit a two-run single for New York. Manaea continued pitching effectively while the Mets extended their lead further.

The Phillies now turn to left-hander Ranger Suárez for Game 4. Though he hasn't performed well since mid-June, Suárez has excelled in past postseasons. Trea Turner stated confidence in their abilities but recognized challenges when hard-hit balls result in outs: "We have confidence in ourselves... It’s win or go home tomorrow for us."

Castellanos concluded by embracing their current situation: "Baseball is over for us... 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."