Bryson Stott hits go-ahead triple on birthday in NLDS Game 2

PHILADELPHIA — Bryson Stott had never really thought about what it’d be like to play a postseason game on his birthday.

Sure, with an Oct. 6 birthday, the idea had obviously crept into his mind — especially with the Phillies’ success over the past few seasons — but it had never lined up … until Sunday.

Stott made the most of his big day, delivering a clutch go-ahead two-run triple in the eighth inning of the Phillies’ wild 7-6 walk-off win over the Mets in Game 2 of the National League Division Series at Citizens Bank Park. Per the Elias Sports Bureau, Stott became the first player in MLB history with a go-ahead hit in the eighth inning or later of a postseason game on his birthday.

So, where does Stott’s 27th birthday rank?

“Pretty close to the top,” Stott said before reconsidering. “Probably the top. That was fun.”

Two innings earlier, Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos hit back-to-back home runs to not only erase a three-run deficit, but temporarily revitalize an uncharacteristically subdued Philadelphia faithful. But Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo answered with a solo shot in the top of the seventh to reclaim the lead — and the momentum.

It remained that way until Stott stepped to the plate with one out in the bottom of the eighth, Harper on second and Castellanos on first. Facing a 4-3 deficit and five outs away from falling into a 2-0 hole in the NLDS, Stott worked the count full against Mets closer Edwin Díaz before lining a ball down the right-field line.

Harper scored easily from third, hopping the last few steps to the plate while frantically waving his arm for Castellanos to follow. Castellanos did exactly that, scoring without a throw after getting a great jump.

“Huge. Huge,” Castellanos said of Stott’s clutch knock.

As for when Castellanos knew he was going to score all the way from first …

“As soon as he hit it,” he said.

Harper was thinking something similar.

“He better score,” Harper said when asked what was going through his head as he crossed the plate.

Harper, born on Oct. 16, is one of the few players who can relate to having a big postseason moment on his birthday. Playing on his birthday for the first time in his career in Game 1 of last year’s NLCS, Harper became the fourth player in AL/NL history to hit a birthday homer in the postseason. He pretended to blow out candles as he crossed home plate.

As for Stott, he hadn’t gotten that chance yet.

Two years ago, the Phillies opened their postseason run on Oct. 7 — the day after Stott’s 25th birthday. In 2023, he hit an epic grand slam on Oct. 4 in the decisive game of the NL Wild Card Series, then had days off before opening the NLDS on Oct. 7.

But this year, it was Stott’s turn.

“Big at-bat by Stotter,” said Harper, who reached base three times, scored two runs and drove in two. “Happy birthday to him.”

Long before his clutch hit, Stott made a remarkable leaping grab to rob J.D. Martinez of a hit — and potentially an RBI — in the first inning. While Stott has had his struggles offensively in what has been a disappointing season at the plate, he’s remained a Gold Glove-caliber defender at second base.

“Just focusing and trying to make plays for our pitchers who are giving us a big chance to win and keeping us in games is fun for me,” Stott said. “Yeah, I like playing defense and taking away hits, it’s cool.”

While Stott had never dreamt about the specifics of playing on his birthday, he said he and Harper always talk about their mutual goal of making sure the team is still playing on their respective birthdays.

They hope to once again still be playing on Harper’s birthday, which falls on the same day as Game 3 of the NLCS. Even better, they have plans to still be playing on José Ruiz’s birthday (Oct. 21; Game 7 of the NLCS) and Tanner Banks’ birthday (Oct. 24; tentatively the eve of Game 1 of the World Series).

Stott’s all-around performance on Sunday night was certainly a step in the right direction.

“Especially on his birthday, that’s big for him,” manager Rob Thomson said. “I thought his at-bats were good today. … And then he comes through with a great at-bat on the triple — line drive down the line. I was really happy with him.”