Luis Castillo Highlite Cubs Win Lowlite For Reds In Mesa

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Luis Castillo had his second good outing but the Chicago Cubs scratched him for a run.  The Cubs scored late but often to hand the Reds a 7-4 loss.

Castillo, who earned his rotation spot with a string of well pitched games, seems to be continuing the trend.

He went out to pitch a third inning after the Cubs eecked out a run in the second.  After a scoreless first, Castillo gave up a leadoff double down the line in leftfield to Tommy La Stella.  Mike Freeman lined a single that Billy Hamilton just missed catching with a dive in centerfield.

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The plan was for Castillo to pitch three innings but he reached his pitch count because with two outs in the third, he made a good pitch that back fired to Anthony Rizzo.  The infield was shifted for Rizzo and he topped the ball toward shortstop.  Eugenio Suarez could only pick up the ball.  Middletown's Kyle Schwarber hit a single.  Jose Reyes finished the inning.

"Mack (Jenkins) said I could pitch one more inning," Castillo said through interpreter, Julio Morillo. "After that they made the decision to take me out of the game."

Castillo would have finished the inning without Rizzo's bleeder.

"I tried to make my pitch and I made my pitch," Castillo said.  "When he hit the ball on the ground, I thought oh my God, really?"

Castillo started the inning by catching Ian Happ and Kris Bryant looking.

"The second inning was tough but I made an adjustment and came out for the third inning," Castillo said.  "I feel amazing. I feel healthy.  In the off season I wanted to work on my slider.  Right now I feel like I'm ready to go."

Bryan Price named him as one of the four starting pitchers on the first day of the camp, based on how Castillo progressed last season.

"He threw three pitches for strikes.  That's exactly what we were looking for," Price said.  "He was really challenging hitters in the zone.  I'm really happy with his progress."

Robert Stephenson is another story.  He pitched 1 1/3 inning, allowing two runs on four hits and worse yet three walks.  The former number one pick in the 2011 draft, is having trouble finding the strikezone.  In his first outing, he gave up three runs in 1 2/3 innings.

"Stephenson just had a lot of misses," Price said.  "He threw elevated fastballs. He hasn't gotten into his grove yet."

Stephenson had a stiff neck when camp started, nothing that would keep him from throwing.  He just hasn't been sharp.

"I know he's been coming in second in the game but we've given him plenty of time to get loose," Price said.  "I think he hasn't quite found his delivery yet. He'll bounce back.  He's got good stuff."

Jackson Stephens walked two in his 1 2/3 innings but kept the Cubs off the board.

Oliver Perez the veteran lefthander, trying to make the team as a lefthanded specialist was hit hard, giving up four runs, including three on a home run by Ali Solis.

The Reds made it artificially close with a pair of two run home runs.

Brandon Dixon hit his third with a man on off Rob Zastryzny.  Aristides Aquino hit his second in the ninth inning with a man on off Dillon Maples.