AL WILD CARD SERIES: MARINERS VS BLUE JAYS

October 7, 2022

Luis Castillo

Rogers Centre

Seattle Mariners

Postgame Press Conference

Seattle Mariners - 4, Toronto Blue Jays - 0

THE MODERATOR: We'll open it up for Luis Castillo and his interpreter, Freddy Llanos.

Q. Luis, we saw just a huge uptick in velocity and stuff. How much of that was adrenaline? How much of that was just taking in the moment and just this opportunity to pitch in the playoffs?

LUIS CASTILLO: I've said it before. The fans, the energy in that moment give me that little extra boost when I'm out there. Like I said before, whenever I go up in the mound, I'm going to give everything that I have in my heart and my body to give the best I can.

Q. (Question in Spanish.)

There was a lot of movement in your pitches. Do you remember another situation or where you had a similar outcome like that (via Interpreter)?

LUIS CASTILLO: The last time that I remember was when we were facing the Yankees, that was a big game for me, and this was something similar to here where it was a big moment and just my pitch was working.

Q. The two times Guerrero and Bichette got up with runners on base, you threw it looked like the sinker, and it had a ton of run in on their hands. Were you trying to do that? It looked like it was the outer half and just ran right in on their hands. Were you trying to get it in on their hands, or is that just the natural movement and you just throw and hope it does that?

LUIS CASTILLO: So the movement is when the conviction of when you throw it with intensity, and that's what I do with my positive mentality. When I go up there, I do pitch it, and that's what happens when I throw with a lot of conviction and confidence in that pitch. It takes that movement.

Q. Just wondering, in those two instances against Bichette and Guerrero, what's the kind of mindset in that moment for you?

LUIS CASTILLO: It's not just them two. It's every batter. I mean, this is a Majors League, and the reason they're here is because they're good. My mentality always is if you are good, so am I. That's the mentality I've carried when I'm up there.

Q. Luis, how much did it help to have a 3-0 lead before you even stepped out on to the mound for the first time?

LUIS CASTILLO: It was very good. Very good, you know, going up there and having the lead on us, knowing that our team was doing good. That gives me that little extra energy when I go on the mound.

Like I said before, when I go on that mound, I'm going to go and throw as hard as I can and hopefully the location is where I want it.

Q. Just how much of a weapon is that two-seamer to right-handed hitters, and especially a team like that with so many right-handed hitters?

LUIS CASTILLO: I mean, it's a very important pitch, the two-seamer. It starts off in the middle and then goes towards their hand. It's something I've been working on and worked on throughout the years, and it's something that I was able to develop, and it's very important.

Q. (Question in Spanish.)

He pitched seven innings, and how is your body feeling today (via Interpreter)?

LUIS CASTILLO: The most important thing is that we're healthy, that we're healthy, and that we are ready to pitch again.