Nick Castellanos Ignites Phillies with Solo Blast, But Blue Jays Stun Philly with Ninth-Inning Walk-Off

TORONTO — In a game packed with dramatic moments and shifting momentum, the Philadelphia Phillies looked poised to steal a tough road win—until the Toronto Blue Jays ripped the script to shreds in the bottom of the ninth. What started as a showcase for Nick Castellanos’ power ended in heartbreak for the visiting Phillies, as the Blue Jays walked off with a 4-3 victory at Rogers Centre on Wednesday night.

Castellanos gave Philadelphia a brief but promising lead in the top of the seventh with a towering solo home run, injecting life into a game that had been gridlocked most of the evening. The blast, a no-doubter to left-center, was his 11th of the season and gave the Phillies a 3-2 edge heading into the late innings.

Nick’s been coming through with those timely swings,” said Phillies manager Rob Thomson after the game. “He gave us the lead in a critical spot. That’s what you want from your veteran bats.”

But the Phillies bullpen, which had been rock-solid throughout June, faltered when it mattered most. Seranthony Domínguez, brought in to preserve the tie after Toronto evened things in the eighth, struggled with command. With two men on and one out in the bottom of the ninth, Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. stepped to the plate with a chance to end it—and he didn’t disappoint. Guerrero smacked a line drive into the right-center field gap, easily scoring Bo Bichette from second and sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

The night started as a pitcher’s duel, with Phillies starter Cristopher Sánchez and Blue Jays right-hander José Berríos each navigating trouble early. Berríos bent but didn’t break, scattering seven hits over six innings while giving up just two runs. Sánchez, meanwhile, showed poise beyond his years, holding Toronto to two runs through five innings before handing things off to the bullpen.

The Phillies jumped out to an early lead in the third inning thanks to some small ball and aggressive baserunning. Bryson Stott led off with a single, stole second, and came around to score on a J.T. Realmuto bloop single into shallow right.

Toronto answered quickly in the fourth, with George Springer launching a two-run homer that put the Blue Jays ahead 2-1. It was Springer’s seventh of the season and a clear sign that he’s beginning to heat up after a sluggish start to the year.

Philadelphia tied it in the sixth when Alec Bohm grounded out to score Kyle Schwarber, who had doubled to start the frame.

But as has been the case at times this season, Philadelphia’s bullpen couldn’t finish the job. Gregory Soto allowed the tying run to score in the eighth after giving up a double to Guerrero and an RBI single to Daulton Varsho. That knotted the game at three and left the Phillies clinging to a hope of extra innings or a late surge.

With Bichette reaching on a single and advancing to second on a wild pitch, the Blue Jays had their chance. Guerrero, already a hero in the eighth, delivered again—this time with the walk-off hit.

For the Phillies, the loss is a missed opportunity in a tightly contested National League race. While their offense showed flashes of brilliance, the inability to close out the game will surely be a focus in the clubhouse heading into their next series.

Castellanos, who has found his rhythm at the plate after an up-and-down start to the season, continues to be a bright spot for Philly. But in baseball, even a big home run can fade into the background when a win slips through your fingers.

As for the Blue Jays, the win keeps them alive in the thick of the American League Wild Card chase. The swagger and clutch hitting that defined their late push last year seem to be emerging once more—right when they need it most.

The Phillies will now shift focus to their next matchup, hoping to tighten the screws in the bullpen while continuing to rely on their veteran bats to power through the grind of the season. For now, though, they leave Toronto with a bitter taste—and a reminder of how quickly momentum can turn.