The Seattle Mariners cruised to a victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night, thanks in large part to the dominant performance of starting pitcher Luis Castillo. Castillo was nearly untouchable, throwing seven shutout innings while allowing just three hits and striking out nine batters. The Mariners offense provided plenty of support, scoring six runs on nine hits, but it was Castillo who stole the show.
The right-hander was in complete command from the start, retiring the first nine batters he faced in order. He was able to locate his pitches with precision, consistently keeping the Pirates off balance and unable to make solid contact. He also displayed excellent control, walking just one batter and throwing an impressive 68 of his 95 pitches for strikes.
Castillo’s performance was especially impressive considering the Pirates lineup featured some of the most dangerous hitters in the National League. He was able to neutralize the likes of Starling Marte, Josh Bell, and Gregory Polanco, all of whom had been swinging hot bats coming into the game.
The win was Castillo’s fourth of the season and improved his record to 4-2. He has now thrown at least seven innings in five of his seven starts this year, and his ERA now stands at a stellar 2.50. The Mariners have now won four of their last five games and are now just one game behind the Oakland Athletics in the American League West standings.
It was a truly dominant performance by Castillo, and one that will surely be remembered for a long time. The Mariners will look to build on this momentum as they continue their push for a playoff spot.
