Rodolfo Castro Hangs Up Phone, Helps Pirates Beat Diamondbacks 6-4

Rodolfo Castro left his phone in the clubhouse Wednesday night then had two hits to help lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 6-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night at Chase Field in Phoenix.

The rookie infielder created quite a stir during Tuesday night’s loss to the Diamondbacks when his cellphone fell out of his left pocket while he slid into third base. The incident blew up on social media and caused the otherwise unknown rookie to make national headlines.

Wednesday night, Castro tripled and scored in a two-run sixth inning that pushed the Pirates’ lead to 5-2.

The Pirates’ Kevin Newman had three hits from the leadoff spot. Ben Gamel hit a two-run double in the third inning to open the scoring and drove in the final run in the ninth on a grounder as he finished with three RBIs.

After Gamel’s third RBI made it 6-3, the Diamondbacks scored a run in the ninth on Carson Kelly’s fielder’s choice. Eric Stout then came on with runners on first and second base and got pinch-hitter Jordan Luplow to hit a game-ending flyout for his first major league save.

Mitch Keller (4-8) did not make it through six innings for the first time in seven starts but still got the win. He gave up three runs and five hits while striking out three and walking one.

After Gamel put the Pirates ahead, they added another run in the third inning to make it 3-0. Tucupita Marcano scored from third base when Jason Delay got caught in a rundown and was eventually tagged out while trying to steal second.

The Diamondbacks cut the lead to 3-2 in the fourth. Ketel Marte hit an RBI single and Christian Walker followed with a sacrifice fly.

However, Castro’s triple sparked a two-run sixth against Madison Bumgarner (6-11). Castro scored on Greg Allen’s double then Marcano singled in a run to give the Pirates a three-run lead.

Daulton Varsho countered with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth to draw the Diamondbacks to 5-3.

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk told reporters before the game that injured All-Star closer David Bednar has been doing lumbar and spine exercises and could start throwing next week. Bednar has been on the injured list since Aug. 3 with lower back inflammation.

The four-game series concludes at 3:40 p.m. on Thursday and the Pirates will try to gain a split. JT Brubaker (2-10, 4.49) is scheduled to pitch for the Pirates against Merrill Kelly (10-5, 2.86).

Brubaker is 0-3 with a 5.13 ERA in five starts since the beginning of July. Kelly is 4-0 with a 1.49 ERA in seven starts during the same timeframe and has won both career starts against the Pirates.