It took Luis Castillo a few minutes to figure out what was going on when Mitch Garver had to leave the game after the second inning of the Mariners’ eventual 5-3 loss to Minnesota on Sunday at T-Mobile Park. Garver began the game as Seattle’s starting catcher, giving regular starter Cal Raleigh a day off and playing as the designated hitter. When Garver left with a right wrist contusion after being struck by a pitch from Minnesota’s Joe Ryan in the second inning, Seattle manager Scott Servais had little choice but to send Raleigh in at catcher. Seattle has no other catchers on the roster since designating Seby Zavala for assignment on June 18.

When Raleigh became a fielder, Seattle lost their designated hitter, forcing its pitchers to bat or pinch-hit. Seattle was not going to want to eliminate Castillo early in a game. So, when the sixth position in the order came up in the fourth inning, where Garver had been, Castillo had to bat, with Luke Raley on second base after a leadoff double. “I didn’t realize right away [that I’d have to bat],” Castillo said through interpreter Freddy Llanos. “The manager came up to me and told me what the plan was. Castillo started his career with the Cincinnati Reds of the National League.