NEW YORK (AP) — Luis Castillo pitched five-hit ball into the seventh inning in his Seattle debut, and the Mariners used a fast start to beat Gerrit Cole and the New York Yankees 7-3 on Wednesday.
Eugenio Suárez, Carlos Santana and Jarred Kelenic homered against Cole (9-4) during Seattle’s six-run first. Jesse Winker connected against Wandy Peralta in the seventh, helping the Mariners match their season high for homers.
“It was just another Luis Castillo start,” said Winker, who played with the pitcher in Cincinnati. “He did great. First start here, I’m sure he was fired up and excited and he did his thing.”
Castillo (5-4) struck out eight in 6 2/3 innings in his second start in the Bronx in less than a month. The right-hander allowed three runs and walked three.
“It was a little emotional … but that did not distract me from my routine,” Castillo said through a translator.
Castillo threw 109 pitches, 66 for strikes. He has struck out eight batters in each of his last four starts.
“Thought he was awesome,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said. “Couldn’t be any more excited about what he’s going to bring to our ballclub, the stability, taking the ball every fifth day and the confidence and the stuff.”
The 29-year-old Castillo pitched seven sparkling innings for Cincinnati at New York on July 14. The Reds traded the ace to the Mariners on Friday night for four prospects.
The Yankees were reportedly in the mix for Castillo, but they acquired right-hander Frankie Montas in a trade with Oakland on Monday.
“They were one of the teams that was very interested in me, but I’m here with the Mariners now and just got to keep moving forward and now I’m here to take this team as far as I can,” Castillo said.
Castillo got some help…
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