Manager Nick Castellanos gave the Mets credit for their Game 4 win over the Phillies on Wednesday night, but the Phillies right fielder was hesitant to call the Mets the better team even after the loss. was.
In a series of questions he asked himself as part of his responses to reporters, Castellanos expressed that even if the Mets won, the Phillies were the better team overall.
“Could we have done better? Yes,” Castellanos said.
“Could we have done things differently? Yes. Do I think they're a better team than us? No, but this series was.”
The Phillies have fallen short of most expectations, but there is a sense that things may change after this season.
Still, as frustrated as Castellanos was when speaking to the media after the loss, he praised the Mets' play in the series.
“I mean, losing sucks, there's no way around it,” he said. “But instead of feeling sorry for myself, I'm going to give them credit, because the Mets are playing really good baseball right now. It's hot, isn't it?” To watch them play…and see Jose Iglesias able to unite them and get the city to buy into something bigger is beyond incredible. Let’s admit it, they beat us.”
Castellanos had 7-for-17 hits in the NLDS, including a game-tying home run and a walk-off in Game 2.
His batting average in four consecutive games was an astonishing .412.
The Mets will advance to the NLCS for the first time since 2015, pending the winner of the Padres-Dodgers series.
