Twins utilityman Willi Castro lost track of the outs in the second inning, allowing the New York Yankees to score a run in their 4-0 win over the Twins Wednesday night at Target Field in Minneapolis.
Anthony Volpe flew out to center field with the bases loaded, and Castro began running toward the dugout after making the catch. Gleyber Torres grounded from third base and headed home to give the Yankees a 2-0 lead. Juan Soto flew out to center field the next at-bat to end the inning, and Castro threw that ball into the stands out of frustration, hitting a Pepsi sign above the stands.
Willi Castro forgot how many outs there were earlier in the inning 😅 After recording the 3rd out, he threw the ball out of the stadium 😳
🎥: Bally Sports North pic.twitter.com/VMPEWNlfao
– FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 16, 2024
Castro did not leave the game after the incident. Twins starter Pablo Lopez said he wasn’t exactly sure what happened during the game, but that Castro walked up to him and took responsibility for not making the throw. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said after the game that he had a conversation with Castro and that he “has to do a better job of controlling himself” in these types of situations.
“He’s a very competitive guy, plays extremely hard, works as hard as anyone in our clubhouse, really a great character,” Baldelli said. “Seeing him be frustrated with himself is really what I think we’re seeing here, and it’s understandable. Totally understandable.
“…I know why he feels the way he feels. The only way to do that is, I think, to keep playing him. I think there are circumstances where you can take a player out of the game, and I think There are circumstances where you can talk to a player and let him play and let him go I know where his mind is and where his heart is on the field and as a teammate, I chose. to let him continue playing.
It was the second tough day in a row for Castro, who made a bad read on a fly ball with the sun in his eyes during the Twins’ 5-1 loss to the Yankees in Game 1 of the series Tuesday night. Starting center fielder Byron Buxton is close to returning and made his first rehab appearance with Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday night, going 0-for-3 in a 6-0 loss to the Storm Chasers. ‘Omaha.
Asked if there was any consideration of bringing Buxton back a day early to play center field in the series finale against the Yankees on Thursday after Castro’s struggles Wednesday night, Baldelli said it wouldn’t. wasn’t something they would do because it wouldn’t be. be what’s best for Buxton.
