Castro Lifts Cubs Past Twins In 10 Innings
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Starlin Castro walked out of Target Field on Friday night with his head hanging following another rough day at shortstop.
Less than 24 hours later, he was feeling a lot better.
Castro atoned for a costly error the previous night with a two-run single in the in the 10th inning on Saturday, helping the Chicago Cubs to a 4-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins.
Castro's error and subsequent pouting at shortstop in the first inning on Friday night got the Twins rolling to a 7-2 victory. But he ripped a one-out pitch from Blaine Boyer (2-3) into center field to break a 1-1 tie, and then made a leaping grab of a liner from Brian Dozier for the final out of the game.
"Every day is a new day," Castro said. "Try to keep it going, keep the head up and try to help the team win."
Jon Lester allowed one run in 6 1/3 innings for the Cubs, and Anthony Rizzo had two hits and an RBI. Jason Motte (4-1) pitched a scoreless inning for the win and Hector Rondon picked up his 12th save in 15 chances.
Chicago improved to 7-3 in extra-inning games this season.
Trevor May gave up one run in six innings for Minnesota, which had won three in a row. Kurt Suzuki connected for this third homer.
Cubs manager Joe Maddon said before the game he was not considering a position change for Castro, who has 14 errors this season. He compounded his latest one on Friday when he was sulking after the ball went right through his legs. He retrieved the ball and stared at it in frustration while Eddie Rosario hustled home, prompting an incredulous look from starter Kyle Hendricks.
Castro apologized after the game and took the blame for the loss, then looked to be pressing early on Saturday. He singled off May in the fourth, but slammed his bat in frustration after striking out in the sixth.
"I know I'm better than that," Castro said. "Keep my focus all game and try to make every play."
He got another chance in the 10th and delivered, pumping his fist and shouting at first base. Chris Denorfia followed two batters later with an RBI single for a little more breathing room.
"I was really happy and pleased for him and for us," Maddon said. "There was no residue from yesterday. He fielded his position really well today. ... He's done pretty well over the last week or so."
The clutch hitting came after the Cubs squandered two chances for big innings earlier in the game and ensured that a strong start from Lester would not go to waste.
Suzuki put Minnesota in front in the second inning, driving a 93-mph fastball 410 feet into the seats in left. It was the 10th homer of the year allowed by Lester, which is tied with Travis Wood for the most on the team.
"They had a lot of bases runners today, it seemed like," manager Paul Molitor said of the Cubs. "And they finally capitalized there."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Cubs: OF Jorge Soler was still favoring his sprained left ankle during batting practice on Saturday, Maddon said. But Soler did some light running and could start a rehab assignment early next week.
Twins: INF Eduardo Nunez was given the day off after he was hit in the hands by a pitch on Friday night. Molitor said Nunez was available but still sore.
UP NEXT
RHP Kyle Gibson (4-5, 3.33 ERA) starts the series finale for the Twins against RHP Jake Arrieta (6-5, 3.40 ERA). In eight home starts this season, Gibson is 3-2 with a 2.84 ERA. Arrieta is coming off of a rough start in which he walked a career-high six while giving up five runs in four innings.
LESTER'S ANGST
After giving up the homer to Suzuki, Lester retired 10 in a row. He was cruising so well that he admitted to being surprised when Maddon came to get him in the seventh.
"That's just kind of the way I've always been," Lester said. "I don't want to leave games. You feel like you always have more. But that's why you have managers and pitching coaches, to make those decisions for you. I may not be happy at the time, but I'll never second-guess a manager and what they're trying to do."
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