Philadelphia Phillies lament lost chances after NLCS defeat - ESPN

PHILADELPHIA — They wouldn't use the word «stunned,» but the Philadelphia Phillies certainly looked the part as they sat around their clubhouse contemplating what could have been after dropping Game 7 of the National League Championship Series to the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-2 on Tuesday night.

«We underachieved as a team,» Phillies right fielder Nick Castellanos said. «It's a frustrating way for the season to end.»

Castellanos was among those who struggled in the series for Philadelphia, going 0 for his last 20 at-bats over the final six games. He and others lamented the missed opportunities, both individually and collectively. The Phillies lost Games 6 and 7 at home after taking a 3-2 series lead in Arizona.

«It's not that we're not good enough to win,» catcher J.T. Realmuto said. «We just have to finish the job and play a little better. They played better than we did the last few days.»

The Phillies' offense — after scoring 10 runs in Game 2 — scored a total of four runs in three of their losses. They went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position in Game 7, tied for the fifth-worst batting average in a winner-take-all game since 1990.

One of those moments of failure came in the seventh inning, with two on and two out, and Bryce Harper at the plate. This could have been the moment that vaulted the Phillies back into the World Series while sending the Philly faithful into full chaos in the stands.

It wasn't to be. Harper flied out on a fastball by reliever Kevin Ginkel.

«Just missed it,» Harper said. «Not being able to come through in that moment, just devastation for me. I feel like I let my team down and let the city of Philadelphia down, as well. That's a moment I feel like I need to come through.»

Harper estimated