MIAMI — In a Dominican Republic lineup full of All Stars, new Orioles catcher Welington Castillo can easily go overlooked, but his play at the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning Sunday at Marlins Park might have been the biggest play of the tournament so far.

It saved the Dominican from an upset loss to Colombia that would have put a wrench into the baseball hotbed’s drive for a second straight World Baseball Classic championship.

Instead, Castillo’s catch and tag of Colombia pinch runner Oscar Mercado — a play that sent the Dominican’s final pool play game into extra innings, where the team prevailed 10-3 after scoring seven runs in the 11th inning — will be one they will talk about in the country for years.

The highlight of his baseball career? “I think so,” Castillo said. “I hope there are more coming, too.”

For three games in Miami this weekend, Castillo was a workhorse behind the plate, catching every single inning — 29 frames in four days — contributing with his bat and two crucial late-inning defensive plays in the Dominican’s pool-play finale against Colombia.

No play was bigger than in the bottom of the ninth. Colombia had the game-winning run at third base with one out in the ninth.

Colombia first baseman Reynaldo Rodriguez rocketed a line drive to left. But the ball was right to Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista, and he uncorked an accurate throw that hopped twice, once right in front of Castillo, who went up to baseline to catch the ball, secured it in his mitt with his right hand as he made contact with Mercado sliding to his left.

Castillo emerged from the play pulling the ball out of his glove to show home plate umpire Dan Iassogna, who called Mercado out, prompting an argument at home plate that resulted in two Colombia ejections. Meanwhile, Castillo celebrated from his knees, pumping his arm multiple times in elation.

“It’s a do or die [situation],” Castillo said. “If I don’t make that play, they’re going to win. That’s why it’s one of those plays where you’ve got to go for it and not just let them win.”

Sisco starts: Orioles top prospect Chance Sisco got his first start of the spring behind the plate in Fort Myers, but didn’t see much added significance in the assignment of catching Dylan Bundy and getting five innings of work behind the plate in a Grapefruit League game.

“I’m just ready to play,” Sisco said. “It’s another game. Obviously, I’m starting, but it’s just another game. I go at it with that mindset. It’s just more innings and another opportunity to improve behind the dish and get some at-bats.”

Sisco grounded out and struck out in his first two at-bats, but drove in outfielder Aneury Tavarez with an opposite-field double in his third and final trip to the plate. He now has two hits in eight at-bats.

The Twins stole three bases off Sisco over his five innings of work.

“He caught the ball well,” manager Buck Showalter said. “We didn’t give him much help with the running game. Not too good, didn’t have much chance on them. I don’t know [if he was] nervous, but maybe a little anxiety. We wanted to get him a start.”

Washington trying to beat odds: Non-roster invitee David Washington has scant opportunity to make an impression — especially with the pending return of Pedro Alvarez, whojoins Chris Davis, Mark Trumbo and the rest of the Orioles’ power-hitting first base/outfield options.

With his two-run, walk-off home run in Saturday’s 7-6 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, Washington did make an impression on manager Buck Showalter. Then Washington took advantage of his only at-bat against the Twins on Sunday, lining a long double to center field in the eighth inning.

“I’ll tell you, he’s put some good swings on the balls in probably the last week,” Showalter said. “A really good young man to be around, too. He works hard. A pleasure to have in camp. He’s well-thought-of by the coaches. He really works hard, and I think it’s his first big league camp. He’s really making good use of his time with the impressions, a big strong young guy.”

Britton, Hardy ready: Zach Britton threw a batting practice session that broke a bat in so many pieces that Showalter and Trumbo jokingly tried to use the tiny shards as toothpicks. It was a sign that Britton is ready to go after slow-playing the first month of spring training with an oblique strain.

“He looked very good,” Showalter said. “That was very encouraging.

J.J. Hardy also was in the group taking BP from Britton and — according to Showalter — also appeared to be ready for the final step in his rehab from a long bout with lower back soreness. Both could show up in a Grapefruit League game this week.

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