Backstop Duo Powers Improbable Comeback

August 9, 2015 - International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release

NORFOLK, VA -- Backup catcher Wilkin Castillo pitched five scoreless outs, stranding the go-ahead run on base in the bottom of the eighth inning and working a shutout ninth in his first career victory, while starting backstop Elias Diaz plated the game-winner against an All-Star closer riding a 26-inning scoreless streak as the Indianapolis Indians swept the Norfolk Tides with a 5-4 win Sunday at Harbor Park.

With no pitching appearances over his 1,000-game career prior to this season, Castillo capped a bullpen day that began with Tribe spot starter AJ Morris departing after only three innings of work.

Castillo retired his first batter faced, inducing Julio Borbon into an inning-ending double play in the eighth, before setting down three of four Tides batters in the ninth inning. He fluttered 16 of his 23 pitches in for strikes with an average velocity in the low-70 MPH range.

Josh Bell hit his first Triple-A homer in the seventh to begin the Tribe's late rally. Diaz then plated two runs in the eighth with a triple and John Bowker took advantage of a dropped catch in foul territory to double home the tying run on his next pitch.

Gustavo Nunez doubled off closer Oliver Drake to open the ninth and Diaz drove him home three batters later with a sacrifice fly.

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