Santiago Casilla apologizes to Bruce Bochy for mound exchange

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Monday, May 16, 2016

San Francisco Giants closer Santiago Casilla has apologized to Bruce Bochy after an emotional exchange when the manager pulled Casilla in the ninth inning of Thursday night's 4-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Casilla had added fuel to the fire with some postgame comments, telling reporters the move showed "the manager didn't have faith in me" and that there was "no reason" for him to talk to Bochy.

However, Casilla reversed course Friday and told reporters he met with Bochy to apologize for his outburst.

For his part, Bochy told reporters he considers the situation "over."

He brought in Casilla for the final two outs Friday night against the Diamondbacks. Casilla struck out both batters for his eighth save in 11 tries as the Giants won 3-1.

Arizona mounted a serious threat in the ninth inning Thursday night against Casilla when a pinch-hit double by Phil Gosselin and a single by Jean Segura put runners at first and third with one out. Casilla struck out Brandon Drury but walked Paul Goldschmidt to load the bases. Left-hander Javier Lopez relieved Casilla, and the closer emotionally expressed his displeasure at leaving the game, so much so that Bochy called him back to the mound to talk to him.

"He didn't want to come out," Bochy said after the game. "You want these guys not to want to come out, but he got a little too emotional."

The move was an obvious one, Bochy said, and Lopez got left-handed batter Jake Lamb to ground out, earning his first save since Sept. 19, 2013.

In the locker room after the game, Casilla continued to express his frustration.

"The reason I got upset was because he took me out of the game where I thought he had confidence in me," Casilla said through an interpreter. "I think I could pitch to the lefty, but I guess it shows the manager didn't have faith in me."

Casilla also took issue with Bochy's approach.

"I understand we have an excellent option in Lopez, but if you're going to take me out, at least talk to me," he said. "Tell me the reason: 'You've been pitching too much.' Don't just take the ball and say nothing. It is not a kid. It is a man on the mound."

Added Casilla: "There's no reason for me to talk to him. He's the manager, and I respect his decisions. I'm just an employee."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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