Nola dominates, Castellanos comes through as Phillies shutout Astros for 4th straight win | PPGL

[Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] and the Phillies keep rolling along 5 nothing shutout win over the Houston Astros they take the series their third Series win in their last four series pretty good on Pace for 96 wins at 78-54 this is Philly post game live presented by Cure auto insurance Ben Davis Ruben Amaro Jr John crook coming in a moment your impressions of this well- pitched and well hit game Aaron olad Del that's the bottom line Aaron noad Del they obviously got a big three-run Homer by Nick casianos early on that ball game but what Aaron no was able to do and just really squash this very good Astros lineup tonight the fastball command was outstanding and it's funny Ruben and I were talking this guy's a basically just squashed his change up doesn't throw his change up anymore but yet his this curveball is just something he can go to over and over over and over and there's three or four different variations of this curveball and his willingness to throw it behind I saw him flip a couple 20 tonight like it's nothing and um it's just it's just fun to watch and again someone else I would love to have caught yeah got out Tu on one what do you think I just think it was a great clean baseball game these guys played really really good baseball and when they're playing quality baseball they're catching the ball I mean obviously it starts with the starting pitcher the the starting pitching has been outstanding over the last four or five games I love the way they've thrown the ball but when when you do that and you work quickly and you throw strikes you can play good defense and they're also you're having quality at bats you're getting like decent at bats like throughout the lineup and it's a little somebody different every single night which is what happening in the very first month and a half two months of the season when they were playing better than everybody on the planet um I I just like the quality of the baseball is being played right now let's go across the street for the crossover and check in with Philly's wall of Famer John crook John baseball is such a Vibe game it really is you don't know what's going to happen one day than the next one minute they're struggling they're losing 15 out of 20 and the next day they've won nine out of 13 and four straight John The Vibes going up isn't it I I have no idea what you mean by that I mean the the the vibe yeah the vibe the atmosphere the character the clubhouse clutch hitting clutch pitching Aaron Nola two I thought all of a sudden he lost his hearing I saw a little blood coming from his ear I didn't know yeah you're way too old to use the word Vibe oh okay that's it okay got it so let's let's let the younger kids do it Ben you can say it Ruben no uh but so what do you think you know look Michael Michael the vibe is great and you know I heard Ben say it and Ruben both said it it would they just play have played clean baseball in the last four games games and that is why they have they look like the team uh that that was the first half team uh instead of the second half team and they're really it's just fun to watch when they're playing like this and of course you know it all starts with Aon NOA and you know when you have a guy like like Noah who goes out there and he understands you know where where the Phillies are at right now it's you know it's basically down the stretch a little little little less than a month left to go in the season and it's time to start pushing uh to get to that postseason and and hopefully go deep into into October but Aaron was great his fast ball uh consistent I heard Ben say change he change speeds on his breaking ball and it's like four different pitches and that's how good it was tonight and when he pitches like that you give him a few runs and thank goodness Nick gave him three um that's basically all he needed cuz the they weren't going to score off of him John it's almost like this Bullpen said you know what we've had enough we went through a spell just much like the rest of the ball Club but in this four-game winning streak that Bullpen has thrown 14 Innings just seven hits and two earned runs he can't say enough about what they've done correct no and you know you got to give Ruiz a lot of credit he's in the middle of this thing now and you know with stto and Sir Anthony gone they you know for the trade with Baltimore they needed someone to step in cuz you can't can't rely on Hoffman and STM every night and and so you know some of these other guys had to pick it up Kirk Ring's been really good Ruiz has been fantastic um and and it's just a total Bullpen effort by these guys T Tanner bank's been really good and and you know this is this is how you win games because starters don't finish games we know that uh Phillies some of the Phillies guys do they have a few but um when you depend on the bullpen that much you can't depend on the same arms every single night it's just not the way the bullpen used and now it's top to bottom these guys are coming in and dealing and you know it it it's got to be pure you know what um for the opposition the way the bullpen throwing the ball maybe they just got tired of of not pitching well so anger Works John with a with a team that has this kind of talent there's always a great amount of scrutiny on the manager talk about how important it is to have the Steady Hand of topper and how he goes about his business when they're going through the tough spell how he handled it and what he means to this ball Club well all you can ask from a manager if you're a player Ruben is consistency are you consistent you know and and Rob Thompson has been consistent since he took over for Joe gerardi and uh he's not going to change uh you know look we're fans all of us are fans yes we might might have played but we're we're fans and you know they lose a couple in a row and you're like oh my gosh the world's coming to an end we're never going to win another game the Braves are going to catch us and Med we might not even make the playoffs all my you know that's the way fans are if Rob Thompson was like that he wouldn't be here right now they'd have fired him a long time ago he has to be consistent because as a player when you get into these funks sometimes you start wondering you know gosh you know you think we'll ever win another series and because Rob's calm because he's consistent um you know with with what he does in the in the clubhouse before games during games in The Dugout and then after games in the clubhouse uh you know the the players don't panic because he doesn't panic but John respectfully end of July to the beginning of August they lost six straight then they won three of four and then they lost four straight and we all including yourself we all Express concern about the future for team what was befalling this team and I don't know what it was but they seem to pull out of the nose dive well you know Michael the Phillies aren't going to go anywhere because Bryce isn't hitting for power he's getting a couple hits every night you need you need him to hit homers and uh you know I know that's a that's that's uh something that uh doesn't sit well with you Michael that he hasn't hit a homer in a while but uh I I promise you this he will hit another one this year I I'm going out on a l no you no he's going to hit one tomorrow John that's what you said in this series don't think I forgot that my friend I well it's like a steel trap I said to Ruben and Ben tonight we're watching the game in the Press Box and they're score they scored that first run by getting a double and knocking them in and I I said that this is as exciting to me as a home run it just is you watch the guys run the bases you watch the ball Place hit them where they ain't I think that's great the only thing I was pointing out about Harper and it was probably mistimed is he hasn't had a home run in 16 games John that's the longest power drought of the season that's all probably like I said probably misplaced but there it is you're the greatest I got to go I'd like to stay and talk I know you want to stay here no not really really I I'm I'm thinking about two ice piics and puncturing both eard drums so I don't have to listen anymore but we do love you Michael back you're a fan and you panic I am we we we Ruben Ben Ricky and I we get concerned you panic wellow me and me and Philly's Nation let me tell you everybody feels the same out there you know that we're just trying to make sure that everybody's calm and it's going the way we think it's going to I I think they're fine now I think they're I think they're okay yep 30 games and thank good thank goodness they're beating a good team because my God you know we couldn't beat a good team ever that's true that's joke that is that's a joke Michael you can I know you can only only play who's in front of you okay here's serious now I've got to go John we'll see you tomorrow 3:30 I'm looking forward to it already I'll be right 3:30 yeah 3:30 it's an afternoon game 4:00 start get ready set my alarm right to sleep John krook joining us in the in the booth tonight take a look at the National League East standings he's the greatest the wall of fame Phillies 6 and a half up with the Braves playing at Minnesota and they're now up 4 nothing last check so that's going to go to six and these wins are even more important now with the Braves keeping Pace 6 and A2 I like it six is fine too Mets Nationals Marlins don't think the Braves Ben are just going to turn up and and and you know turn over they're not going to go anywhere that's the bottom line they still have a little bit of pitching left they do have some thump in that lineup we know the year that Ozuna is having Michael Harris hit a 424 ft home run tonight this is a ball club that are not going to go anywhere and they've been through this before they have obviously a Litany of injuries but they're still a good ball club and they're not going to go anywhere uh but he's you you know three pitches and he's dealing and that was just another great performance against the Astros and he sort of owned the Astros in his career 4 and0 in the regular season against Houston is Aaron Nola he's 12- six this season gets that 12 win 3o 30 ER been in 27 starts but in particular these last three he seems like he is at another level and and two 3-2 wins and a five nothing win yeah he's just he has taken it to a different level and from an offensive standpoint Ruben can attest to this if you're sitting in the Batters box and you have a 20 count and you're sitting dead R and all of a sudden you see a curveball you go really dude no you're supposed to throw me a fast ball it's 20 I'm getting a fast ball flips that in there you're thinking okay 2-1 now he's got to throw me another curveball and then he goes 94 down and away or 92 down and Away doesn't matter is he's painting it down away then you're like and then it's 22 and you're like what the heck is going on here that's that's not the way you're supposed to pitch that's not the way guys have done it the other thing is this curveball a lot of guys are are relying on lateral movement so if you're a sinker slider guy you get one ball that goes east another ball that goes west with the slider if he has a curveball that that pops out of his hand guys don't throw the the 126 curveball anymore and sometimes you can get around it and it has a little bit more tilt to it otherwise it has a big hump in it guys just aren't used to seeing that pitch anymore they're just not and He commands it so well and he throws it in situations where you're not expecting it you you're thinking fast ball you get the curveball and one of the most impressive things about him is his consistency I mean we talk about you know you you want him to throw seven or eight Innings of you know shut out baseball all the time well he's going to give up home runs you want to know why because he leaves pitches in the middle every once in a while because he throws so many strikes and you know he's one of those guys that that doesn't give in he'll throw strikes and so as a hitter you're looking for pitches in the zone so he'll give up some home runs the key for him is his consistency his ability to bounce back when he has a tough inning to come back and get those outs and and to eat up Innings and he's done that very very well over the last 10 years to the clubhouse and check in with Rob Thompson on tonight's win um he really attacked and his curveball was really good you know he touched 94 was through strikes you know in the fifth inning I thought maybe he was um not attacking the hitters like he normally does and I went down and just to see if he was okay and and he said I I I got to get ahead I got to I got to attack these guys and and that's what he did in the sixth and seventh and it was really good when you sent him back out there for the seventh of 93 uh how much leeway you giving him there and you know how what does it say that he was so efficient to get out yeah he was just attacking and and probably I I told him I'd cap him at 105 cuz the next starts on regular rest so um he got it done and how important was that getting seven out of him might not have had your football P yeah yeah it's huge um cuz we we have been working those guys over a little bit so it was great to get some length out of them and um and Ruiz and and and banks are threw the ball great what was Ruiz I don't know that's first I've heard of it c big swing there I mean he's been pretty consistent yeah he's been he's been really good really balanced at the plate and um he's taking the fast ball the other way and and if they hang a breaking ball he's hitting out of the ballpark it seems so uh really good at bats from him really good at bats you asked a lot or earlier this season like why you're going to keep playing him why you're G to give him a break go looking back at it now like why do you think you decided to keep running him out there every single day despite him struggling cuz I trust him I mean I I know he can hit and it's it'd be one thing if he didn't work at it and and show me that he didn't care he cares and he works at it and uh I know that there there are times when he doesn't look good but there are times when everybody doesn't look good so so um he he really works at it and I'm I'm happy for him that he's had this turnaround think in the middle of line fifth has suited him better feels like he's more in the middle of that the action we got to earn it first and he's earned it so that's just the way it works minus that Atlanta series guys have w n of your last 13 do you feel like you're out of that struggle that you were in for several weeks um yeah I'm going to answer that a little bit differently but um I think we're playing Better Baseball and I'll leave it at that perfect example of a guy who you know you think about what he has on the back of his of of his baseball card because you know he struggled so much as Ben said earlier and and and you know you knew at some point he was good to click and I mean he's becoming the hitter that we all expect him to be he's been super productive and even when the Phillies were really struggling he was still swinging back pretty darn well MH we're going to hear from Nick casos coming up a little bit later in the program what do you think it's like having all those coaches being so supportive for him he does give some doozy of some answers doesn't he good ones the answer is quote what's the alternative having coaches that aren't said it like Jack Nicholson too what do you think uh okay let's hear from Aaron NOA tonight's winner five to nothing here's Nola Clubhouse gu T night for the most part is that with the strategy against them just TR to set the tone against that lineup yeah it's a really good lineup I've faced them several times the past few years and um I know them as kind of as hitters and they know me what I have is as a pitcher so it it just came down to executing my pitches and you know really trying to stay out the middle of the zone and um you know they hit a couple good pitches but you know also some balls over the plate how important was it for you to get that seven Pon it's been a while since I finished seven um yeah I feel like it was much needed but it was good to get through the seventh and you know only have to use two pitchers right there to finish the game you and Zach pitching well these first two nights that I kind of like feel important to be able to carry that momentum forward here to begin the home stand against a couple of contending teams yeah for sure uh absolutely to to get this series win right here is big and um go out tomorrow and try to get a sweep and uh it's big to come back to this home stand after a road trip especially against these guys to to win a series and hopefully go for a sweep tomorrow and uh keep it rolling you've seen uh like the ups and downs of Nick casos over the last couple years just what do you think of the turnaround he's able to put together this year good man Cassie he's he's always working um he's always hitting you know he's to me he's taking really good at bats is what I see and um you know once Cassie gets hot he gets hot so we've all seen that but you know he's always working he's always positive and uh to me that's a big thing always being positive and having a confidence no matter how things are going um aside from tonight's game and you're very much about the team but you're now in sole possession of seventh in franchise history for wins does that hold any significance for you uh it's pretty cool I mean I feel like I didn't know that until till a little bit earlier uh after the game so um it's pretty cool Kurt obviously an unbelievable pitcher and it's just cool to be up there with him and those guys um but I mean that's all good stuff at the end of the day but I just want to win for the team and you know get back to where we want to get back to the World Series so that's kind of the only thing on my mind thanks who had seen extended time on the I making just his second start since his return five innings seven hits four earn runs and you kind of saw the way it was going to go Benny didn't you you did uh you know he did touch 95 a couple times but a ly of Sliders and curve balls after that and he just didn't have that command and he left that big one to Nick casianos who goes up top for that three-run Homer but it's I mean he's 41 years old yeah but on the one hand you're thinking it's Justin Verlander on on the other hand you're thinking this he's not pitching like Justin ver father time is undefeated that that's a good point I I think you just don't see the life from the fast ball that he once had and that high fast ball that he used to make guys Chase so consistently and then drop the hammer on those on those guys from that high fast ball and it was tough to distinguish um doesn't have the same sort of stuff he's more of a five ining pitcher now uh still a great competitor he's up there you know doing his best to try to keep uh you know the Houston Astros in the game and he did for by by and large until that he gave up that home run um but it was Aaron no's night tonight man he held him down and uh you know he he deserves a lot of love for that game he pitched no question about it also Nick castios say night hit a three run home run off of Justin Verlander his former teammate when they were both with the Tigers here is Nick castios once again in the clubhouse you had against the for third just was was the key in that inning when you got the home run against him what was your approach against him what you think you wanted to try and do there um I had a pretty good idea I was going to see an off speed pitch at some point in the atat and uh saw that curveball pretty early and hit it well your first pit a lot of uh not for a minute that would have been too long but for a couple seconds for sure so when you see a person's B you're thinking are you sit and spin there because uh no no doubt that was just my plan going into the at bat and um as uh Dustin Lynn says sometimes you have to pay your taxes you faced him like 15 times in your career I'm sure sure you seen that curve ball I mean was uh have there been at bats against him that you can recall were like you just missed one like that or did was that a I guess that curve ball that you saw did that um is that a pitch you haven't been able to do something with the way you were today um usually with how hoppy as fastball is my Approach was just to make sure that I'm on time for his heater uh this was the first time that uh you know heater was probably secondary to his offs speed stuff and it worked out how have you been able to find success knowing that you're just going to get breaking balls and off speed pites all the time I mean it's never going to change I feel like right I mean but you found a way to have success the last few months I'm doing the best I can man anything particular in change in approach or I don't know I think that just the consistency of just my work and stuff has been putting me continuously in a good spot and then um you know just trying to do Less almost because of uh the way the game is attacking me is you know I don't know if it's still but a couple weeks ago I think I saw I see more off spe pitches than anybody in basball I don't know if it's still the same uh but you know just taking what the game gives me right and do you enjoy hitting more in the middle lineup I think you've been like fourth and fifth last couple weeks is that important to you is that something you like to is it you like to be so is it important to me uh it's not important as a sense of like selfish but knowing my style of hitting which is always like glorified batting practice right like I don't really have an approach I look for the baseball and hit it as hard as I can having protection behind me usually forces the pitcher to throw to me more when there are people behind me uh if I'm on let's say like the Cliff of the lineup where the power starts to drop off now the approach is like well just we don't have to do this gu strike you know that's hard for me because uh I don't think I've ever gone to the plate looking to walk