AP: NY Mets' second baseman Luis Castillo leaves game with sprained ankle

by The Associated Press

Tuesday August 04, 2009, 9:51 PM

Second baseman Luis Castillo left the New York Mets' game against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night with a sprained left ankle after he slipped and fell in the dugout.

Castillo grounded out leading off the seventh and was on his way back to the bench when he tumbled down the dugout steps and had to be helped up the tunnel by some teammates.

Angel Berroa came in to play shortstop in the top of the eighth and Alex Cora moved to second to replace Castillo, who went 1 for 3 and scored a run.

Notes

• Luis Castillo shocked many by showing up to camp slimmed down. But now is the hard part, proving that he can still play to the level he once was: An all star.

• Veteran infielder Jose Valentin, who is in camp on a minor-league invite at age 39, said his comeback attempt was prompted in part by the surprising success of laser surgery he had last summer to repair a herniated disk in his neck.


• 
  The Mets ultimately hope Valentin will agree to serve in a player-coach role at Triple-A Buffalo.

-NYPost