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'This one stings': The feel good-era of Phillies baseball might be over

October 10, 2024

Oct 9, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Carlos Estevez (53) reacts after giving up a grand slam to New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) in the sixth inning in game four of the NLDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Carlos Estévez knew it right away.
Brought into a bases-loaded jam in the sixth inning of a must-win game with the Phillies hanging on to a tenuous one-run lead, he intended to throw Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor a fastball high and outside. It didn’t get as high as he intended.
“Unfortunately it was more like middle away instead of up away,” Estévez said after the game. “And as soon as he hit it, I knew he hit it really well.”
Brought in midseason to bolster the Phillies bullpen, Estévez should have been the solution. When the Phillies acquired him from the Angels, the righty reliever had a 2.38 ERA — 77 percent better than league average. President of baseball operations Dav...