Everything the Phillies have tried in this NLDS with the Mets has backfired, and their season filled with World Series expectations is now one loss away from ending well short of the Fall Classic.

The Phillies pushed starting pitcher Aaron Nola back to Game 3 because of his road success, especially at the Mets' Citi Field home.

But Nola gave up four runs in his 5-plus innings, and the Phillies bats stayed cold as they fell behind by six runs to the Mets in Game 3 of the NLDS before scoring a pair of runs in the eighth.

It was too little, too late in their 7-2 loss Tuesday. The Phillies trail 2-1 in the best-of-5 NLDS. They have to win the next two games − Game 4 in New York on Wednesday night, followed by Game 5 at Citizens Bank Park on Friday − in order to advance to the NLCS.

And they'll have to do it with Ranger Suarez on the mound in Game 4. Suarez, who was an All-Star, had a 5.74 ERA over his final 7 starts.

"I told them it's the most resilient club I've ever been around," Phillies manager Rob Thomson told reporters after the game. "That's what they're all about. They're all about toughness and fighting and playing together. That's what we need to do, and just focus on one game."

Nola pitched well enough through five innings, giving up only solo homers to Pete Alonso in the second and Jesse Wiinker in the fourth.

But the Phillies couldn't do anything against Mets starter Sean Manaea, who went 7-plus innings, allowing just 3 hits and a run while striking out 6 and walking 2.

The Phillies only had a few chances, and they squandered them.

It was like this all throughout the lineup.

Alec Bohm, benched in Game 2, hit a shot to the wall in right-center with one out in the fourth, but was thrown out at second on a strong throw by Tyrone Taylor. Then the Phillies squandered their best chance in the sixth when Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner walked to start the inning.

But Bryce Harper struck out on three pitches, and Nick Castellanos, the hero in Game 2, lined into a double play.

Thomson said Harper was "trying to do too much, trying to ... put the club on his shoulders. Again, it's about passing baton and rely on your teammates.”

As for Castellanos, Thomson said, "Casty hits the ball right on the nose. I thought that was possibly an opportunity to get back in (the game)."

Then Nola allowed a single and two walks to start the bottom half of the sixth. Orion Kerkering replaced him and got two outs before Starling Marte singled in two runs. The Mets added two runs in the seventh on Jose Iglesias' two-run single and another in the eighth on Francisco Lindor's double.

But the Phillies couldn't respond, mainly because the No. 6-9 hitters in the lineup are a combined 3-for-42 through the three games.

Phillies finally break through in 8th

The Phillies finally broke through in the eighth. Edmundo Sosa singled to start the inning. Kyle Schwarber walked one out later. Both runners moved up on Trea Turner's groundout before Harper and Nick Castellano hit run-scoring singles.

It was too little, too late.

Phillies' Aaron Nola gamble backfires

For the Philles, pitching Nola in Game 3 was a gamble that didn't pay off.

After all, for the previous two postseasons, it was always Zack Wheeler and Nola as a 1-2 starting pitching playoff punch. And it has worked quite well for the Phillies as Wheeler is virtually unhittable with a 2.18 career postseason ERA after throwing 7 shutout innings in Game 1.

Nola has an ERA of 3.70 for his career, but had a 2.35 ERA in four starts in the 2023 postseason.

But Thomson decided to go with Cristopher Sanchez in Game 2 of the NLDS against the Mets at Citizens Bank Park this past Sunday night, with Nola starting Game 3 on Tuesday at Citi Field in New York.

Sanchez, after all, had a much better ERA at home (2.21) as opposed to the road (5.02) during the regular season.

"I was fine with it," Nola told reporters Monday. "Super happy for Sánchy to be able to pitch at home. It's incredible to pitch at home. Obviously, his first start in postseason, which was awesome. I thought he threw the ball really good. But, whatever I can do to try to contribute and try to put the team in the best chance to win in a playoff game, whether it's home or road, I was fine with."

The home and road difference with Nola was negligible. He went 7-4 with a 3.21 ERA at home this season, 7-4 with a 3.87 ERA on the road. At Citi Field this season, Nola pitched a complete game shutout, allowing 4 hits and striking out 8 in a 4-0 Phillies win on May 14.

For his career, Nola was 6-6 with a 3.28 ERA at Citi Field in 14 career starts.

But Nola got no help from the Phillies offense, which has scored a total of 1 run in the first five innings in each game so far.

And now, the Phillies season is on the brink.

Starling Marte's 2-run single puts Phillies in 4-0 hole

The Phillies were close to escaping a bases-loaded, no out jam in the sixth after Mark Vientos singled, and Brandon Nimmo and Pete Alonso walked.

Thomson then replaced Nola with Orion Kerkering. He got Jose Iglesias to ground to second as Edmundo Sosa got the force at home. Kerkering then got Jesse Winker on a shallow fly to left, holding the runner at third. But Starling Marte ripped a single to center, scoring two runs.

The Phillies trailed 4-0 heading to the seventh.

Phillies bats stay cold after Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner reach base

For the third straight game, the Phillies bats have gone cold. They have 1 run total through five innings in the three games so far. The Phillies seemed to have something going in the sixth when Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner walked to start the sixth.

But Bryce Harper struck out and Nick Castellanos lined into a double play. The Phillies still trail 2-0.

Aaron Nola gives up another HR, Phillies trail 2-0

Nola seemed to find his groove in the fourth inning, striking out Pete Alonso and getting Jose Iglesias on a weak popup. But Jesse Winker, who just missed a homer in the second inning, didn't miss this time. He crushed a 2-and-1 pitch to the second deck in right field, giving the Mets a 2-0 lead.

The exit velocity was clocked at 108.9 mph, and went 399 feet.

Pete Alonso HR puts Phillies in 1-0 hole, then things get crazy

The Phillies hit three hard-hit balls in the first inning, including a Kyle Schwarber fly ball that was caught on the warning track. All three outs were on balls hit at 106 mph, but the Phillies had nothing to show for it.

Then Mets star Pete Alonso led off the second inning with a home run. Jose Iglesias followed with a single, and then Jesse Winker hit a fly ball to deep right that Nick Castellanos leaped to catch at the wall. But the ball came out of his glove as he transferred it to his throwing hand. The play was ruled a hit, putting runners on first and second.

The Phillies challenged the ruling, and the call was overturned. Iglesias was allowed to return to first. But Nola got the next two outs to end the inning.

Phillies lineup: Alec Bohm back in, Brandon Marsh and Bryson Stott out

Alec Bohm, who had been benched in Game 2, was back in the starting lineup for Game 3, but he was pushed down from his usual cleanup spot to No. 5. Nick Castellanos was in the No. 4 spot after he homered, then drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth on Sunday.

Bohm has been in a slump since returning from the injured list in mid-September. He hit .170 over the final 12 regular-season games, with 2 homers, 8 RBIs and a .502 OPS. Bohm pinch hit for Edmundo Sosa in the seventh inning of Game 2, then stayed in the game. He popped out twice.

Because the Mets are starting lefty Sean Manaea, Thomson sat outfielder Brandon Marsh and second baseman Bryson Stott, both left-handed hitters. Thomson has done this often this season as both have struggled against lefties. Thomson has Johan Rojas in center and Austin Hays in left, and Sosa at second.

Hays is batting seventh, Sosa eighth and Rojas ninth.

Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @Mfranknfl or Threads and Instagram @martinfrank1.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Philadelphia Phillies drop NLDS Game 3 vs NY Mets, face elimination