PHILADELPHIA — Phillies manager Rob Thomson changed course from how he had operated for two months when he removed right fielder Nick Castellanos for defense in the top of the ninth inning on Friday night.
Castellanos sat on Thursday night, then played over Harrison Bader, the club’s hottest outfielder and top defensive center fielder, on Friday. The right-handed-hitting Castellanos has four career home runs off Braves starter Bryce Elder, so Thomson gave him the nod. But after he drew a walk one batter before the end of the eighth, the Phillies subbed Castellanos out for the final three outs.