Starlin Castro has done it yet again. Although not a walk-off job with his team on the road, the Chicago Cubs' shortstop drove home the game-winning runs as the Cubs (36-30) defeated the Minnesota Twins (37-31) 4-1 Saturday afternoon.
With the bases loaded, one out, and the scored tied at 1 in the 10th, Castro lined the first pitch into center field to score Dexter Fowler and Anthony Rizzo (video). Fowler reached on an error on a ground ball to second that Brian Dozier could not grab, and Rizzo singled to center. Chris Coghlan then drew an intentional walk to load the bases.
Castro had two walk-off hits against the Cincinnati Reds last weekend at Wrigley Field.
One out later, Chris Denorfia looped a single into right that allowed Coghlan to score an insurance run for the Cubs.
The turning point occurred with the Twins batting in the bottom of the ninth in a tie game. Joe Mauer led off with a walk. After a pitching change, Mauer appeared to have second base stolen easily. Cubs manager Joe Maddon, though, challenged the call, arguing that Mauer over-slid the bag with the tag still applied. Replays confirmed Maddon's suspicion, and the umpires ruled Mauer out. The Twins got a hit later in the inning, but losing that leadoff runner really hurt their chances to win it in the ninth.
The Cubs' defense also made a spectacular double play in the eighth. With Byron Buxton on first, Dozier flew out deep to right center. Fowler made the catch and nailed Buxton, trying to tag, at second base (video). Buxton may have beaten the throw, but Castro blocked the bag, forcing Buxton to slide into Castro's right foot rather than second base. The Twins did not challenge the call.
Minnesota scored its lone run on Kurt Suzuki's solo home run (3) in the bottom of the second. The Cubs tied it in the third on Rizzo's RBI double down the left-field line to score Addison Russell.
Jason Motte (W: 4-1, 3.20 ERA) pitched the ninth and got the win. He allowed one hit after Mauer's overslide but nothing else. Hector Rondon (S: 12) got the save opportunity, and he closed the door. He allowed one hit in his one inning of work. Cubs starter Jon Lester was very good for seven innings: 1 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 7 K. He also allowed a home run and a stolen base.
Castro made a leaping catch on Dozier's 10th-inning line drive to end the game.
Blaine Boyer (L: 2-3, 2.48) allowed the Cubs' rally in the 10th. He got two men out but gave up three runs (one earned) on one hit and a walk. Twins starter Trevor May was also very good for six innings: 7 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K.
The series concludes Sunday at 2:10 p.m. EDT. The Cubs will send Jake Arrieta (6-5, 3.40) to the mound, and Minnesota will counter with Kyle Gibson (4-5, 3.33).
