Thursday, June 20, 2002
Castillo's streak reaches 33
The Associated Press
MIAMI — Luis Castillo topped a dribbler toward the pitcher and ran as hard as he could — fast enough to catch Rogers Hornsby and three other names from baseball's early years.
The infield hit in the sixth inning Wednesday night made it 33 games in a row for Castillo. He matched Hornsby's 80-year-old record for the longest hitting streak by a second baseman, going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored to help the Florida Marlins beat Cleveland 2-1.
Castillo tied four players at 33 — Hornsby of St. Louis in 1922, Heinie Manush of Washington in 1933, Hal Chase of the New York Yankees in 1907 and George Davis of the New York Giants in 1893.
Next on the list is DiMaggio — Dom, not Joe. In 1949 Dom hit in 34 consecutive games, an achievement matched by three others.
“A new day,” Castillo said. “Four more at-bats. I start over.”
Castillo was 0-for-2 Wednesday before beating out a dribbler to the pitcher in the sixth inning, and he scored the tying run on Cliff Floyd's single. His one-out single to right in the seventh drove in Preston Wilson.
“Luis took care of his hit,” manager Jeff Torborg said.” I was thinking about the game. Then Luis took care of that, too.”
He extended the streak when he topped a 1-0 pitch that pitcher Danys Baez fielded on the second hop between the mound and plate. Baez's hurried throw sailed over first baseman Jim Thome, and the speedy Castillo continued to second.
“I don't think his feet hit the ground,” teammate Derrek Lee said. “He wanted it bad.”
Castillo raised his average to .401 during the streak and .338 this season. He's still more than three weeks away from breaking Joe DiMaggio's record 56-game streak.
“I'm not going to doubt him one bit,” Floyd said.
The streak has yet to shake South Florida fans out of their apathy toward the Marlins. The game drew just 9,428, which is below the team's season average of 11,220.
Still, he's beginning to feel the glare of the spotlight. He says he will no longer talk to the media before games.
“He ain't soft, but he hates a lot of pressure,” Floyd said. “I hope he doesn't put pressure on himself and has fun with it.”
That's easier said than done, Castillo admitted.
“Everybody says to play to have fun, but that's hard,” he said. “When I go to the plate, I want the people to be happy. That's a lot of pressure.”
Castillo looked tentative in the first inning, twice squaring to bunt before taking a called third strike on a 2-2 pitch that just caught the outside corner. In the third he grounded to shortstop Omar Vizquel, who threw a one-hopper to Thome that barely beat Castillo.
Florida beat Cleveland for the second consecutive night in a rematch of the 1997 World Series, which the Marlins also won. They're 5-3 during a streak when they'll play 31 consecutive games against teams that have losing records.
The Indians lost for the fourth time in five games. They've scored one run in two games in Miami and managed just four hits in seven innings against former Cleveland pitcher Julian Tavarez (5-3).
“We're not generating any offense,” manager Charlie Manuel said. “Now the middle of our lineup is struggling.”
Wilson started Florida's winning rally in the seventh with a walk against Jerrod Riggan (1-1). Pinch-hitter Tim Raines also walked, and Castillo followed with a single for his 14th RBI during the streak.
“I don't mind seeing him get a hit,” Cleveland's John McDonald said. “It's a phenomenal streak. But I don't want to see him beat us.”
Notes: The Marlins improved to 17-16 during Castillo's streak. ... Burks increased his on-base percentage against Tavarez to .769. He's 3-for-6 with seven walks. ... Baez, a Cuban defector, bought 68 tickets for friends and family. “I thought I threw a pretty good game for them,” he said. ... Indians reliever Mark Wohlers pitched a scoreless eighth and has a 1.64 ERA in 33 innings against Florida.
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Castillo's streak reaches 33 
