HOUSTON – From his position behind goal, JT Realmuto thought the game was over and his team lost the first game of the World Series.
The score was tied, it was the end of the ninth inning and Jeremy Peña, the rookie who beat the Houston Astros, made a fly-in in the shallow area on the right. With two shots, Astros veteran second-player Jose Altuve started from second by the time Peña’s bat made contact, and darted straight into the home side’s goal, ready to go. ready to score.
The fans were high in expectation, shouting and screaming for the ball to land safely, which should help Altuve score and possibly keep Houston’s post-season unbeaten run.
“I think the game is over,” Realmuto said. “But then I saw him rush in, hot-tempered, and I thought, ‘Oh my, he might have a chance of catching it.’
Realmuto was referring to Nick Castellanos, the Phillies right winger, who ran about 70 feet and missed for the final game of the half, preventing Altuve from scoring. Castellanos slid on his back and spun around before stopping. He rested a bit to absorb the gravity of the moment.
The catch kept the game going and Realmuto took a 10th lead, giving the Phillies a 6-5 win in game 1 of the World Series.
“It’s the second or third game really, really clutch that he’s done for us out on the field after this season, that has helped us win baseball games,” Realmuto said. speak. “The play was huge. You can’t say enough about that.”
The game-saving catch is similar to the snap that Castellanos took in Game 1 of Philadelphia’s division series against the Atlanta Braves earlier this month. That catch was also in the ninth inning, also on the road, and helped secure the 7-6 win – even though it had no one on the base and only one. But visually, it’s pretty close.
“I’ve had a few people say they’re like carbon copies of each other,” says Castellanos. “But I’m happy that an opening match is made and we can go on and win both of those games.”
Although Philadelphia is not known for its defensive acumen, this catch was one of the team’s best defensive plays on Friday. Another situation arose when Alec Bohm, the third defender, made a beautiful play against Martín Maldonado’s deep bouncing ball, ending the sixth inning, with the two running on top in a draw.
“We played with poise, confidence and ease,” said Phillies director Rob Thomson.
Jean Segura, the second fighter, also has a nifty game in season nine when he catches Realmuto’s laser throw when Altuve steals the second base, with Peña on the plate. Altuve was secured, but Segura was able to catch the ball even though it touched Altuve’s feet very close.
When Altuve was in second place, it changed tactics for the players who came out. With two passes, Altuve would have been able to score a single goal, so Castellanos moved on. Those few steps probably made all the difference in the game.
“It was just what my instincts told me to do,” says Castellanos. “I just think he has a better chance of trying to blur something in there, than burning something on my head. That’s kind of my thought process there, just think about it quickly. “
Castellanos had a great start with the ball, he honed it, and when it fell he dropped to his knees, catching it with his outstretched left arm. Rhys Hoskins, the first hitter, raised both arms to celebrate as he watched, and Kyle Tucker, Castellanos’ right partner on the Astros field, grudgingly admired the play.
“It saved the game,” Tucker said. “It really won the game.”
Scott Miller contribution report.
