Yankees gift-wrapped win on Castillo's blunder

New York Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez blew his first save of the season, but it wasn't his fault. Second baseman Luis Castillo blew it. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez pumped in a high fastball, which New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez skied between first and second base. Alex slammed his bat down in frustration, thinking his lack of clutch hitting would once again doom his struggling team, and ran down to first base with his head down.

Luis Castillo, the Mets second baseman who, during his 2006-07 season, set a record for the most consecutive games without an error with 143, settled under the pop-up. Then, he backpedalled, following the ball’s flight, but he did so in a tentative fashion. With every step came uncertainty.

His teammates in the outfield began trotting to the dugout, jumping to the conclusion that the three-time gold glove winner would corral it for victory. What transpired next was stunning, but all too familiar to the Mets.

While the Yankees problems lie within the bullpen and starting rotation (their rotation has averaged 3 2/3 innings over their past four starts; their bullpen has allowed 10 runs over that span) a majority of the Mets losses are either because of poor relief or even worse defense. Entering the bottom of the ninth inning, they had 42 errors on the season, tied for seventh worst in the majors. Now, they sit sixth with 43 errors, a costly blunder that led to their third straight loss.

Castillo did everything but trip over himself. He, for some reason, looked uncomfortable on a routine pop-up. Nonetheless, he chose just to use his glove, instead of using his off-hand as well to assure a catch would be made. His eyes wavered, and he failed to follow the ball into his glove. Because of this, the ball trickled out of his possession and plopped onto the ground. Every other Met stopped in their tracks. Sandy Alomar, their bench coach, yelled in disbelief, while Rodriguez stood on the mound flabbergasted. Yet, in spite of this Castillo had a chance to redeem himself, but he made another mistake.

He fell to his knees, and frantically threw the ball to second base. Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira, who began the play on first base, intelligently ran around the bases, refusing to concede the out. He was rounding third base once Castillo grabbed the ball, and would have been out at home if Castillo didn’t continue to unravel.

Shortstop Alex Cora took Castillo’s throw into the infield, and threw a bullet to catcher Omir Santos. It was too late, as Teixeira slid home for the winning run. Alex Rodriguez, even though he didn’t deserve to be, was mobbed. He failed in the clutch once more, but Castillo bailed him out, giving the Yankees the luckiest of wins.