Castillo gets in late despite bruised foot

BY ARTHUR STAPLE

AND KIMBERLEY A. MARTIN

arthur.staple@newsday.com

Luis Castillo made it into yesterday's game and did plenty of running on his bruised left foot, so he didn't know if he'll be available for today's game against the Nationals.

Castillo left Saturday's game in the eighth inning after aggravating the injury, which he said he felt as far back as spring training. "Some days I feel good, some days I feel worse," he said before yesterday's game, which Mets manager Jerry Manuel had scheduled as a day off for Castillo.

But he was well enough to enter the game as a defensive replacement for Alex Cora at second base in the eighth inning and leg out an infield single in the bottom of the inning.

Castillo said the bruise is on the ball of his left foot. As for his availability, he said: "I don't know. We'll see tomorrow."

Big day for LI woman

Lainie Goodman, 41, of Holtsville battled breast cancer for two years. Yesterday, she got to enjoy her day as honorary Mets bat girl.

"I only took the positive from this whole experience, honestly," she said. "And it led me here today. So that's a huge positive."

Goodman was selected to be part of yesterday's Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer initiative. Players used pink bats and wore pink wristbands and Goodman, who now is cancer-free, got to be on the field for batting practice and to exchange lineup cards with the umpires and opposing coaches.

The third-grade teacher grew up in Jackson Heights, not far from Shea Stadium, and had 30 friends and family with her at the game.