ST. LOUIS – Yadier Molina has played in 2,055 career games throughout his 18-year career, so he’s seen it all.
When Molina fouled Luis Castillo’s 99-mph sinker in the sixth inning Friday, he said something to the mound and smiled. He had just whiffed on two straight sinkers, so perhaps he was just happy he made contact.
Before a full-count pitch, Molina called for time in the batter’s box twice. Castillo didn’t flinch. He fired a 99.1-mph fastball, his fastest pitch of the evening, that shattered Molina’s bat on a soft pop-out in the infield to end the inning.