CLEVELAND –– Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Luis Castillo’s changeup has been the pitch he was always able to rely on for a strikeout.
But Castillo’s changeup hasn’t been as effective so far this season.
Castillo said his changeup isn’t at 100%, and he adjusted his game plan to feature fewer changeups in Cleveland on Saturday. Castillo only threw four innings and allowed four earned runs as Cleveland beat the Reds, 9-2.
“What I've seen is about 70% of my pitches are staying in the zone,” Castillo said through team interpreter Jorge Merlos. “I'm definitely noticing that and I'm definitely focusing on that, too. What I'm trying to do now is pitch lower so that way we can get more swings and misses and more ground balls.”
Through his first seven starts of the season, Castillo has a 15.43 ERA in the first inning. Castillo started Saturday’s game leaning on his fastball, throwing it on 14 of his first 22 pitches. But Cleveland left fielder Eddie Rosario kept Castillo’s first inning struggles going as he hit a 96 mph fastball for a line drive RBI double to left field.
Castillo only had two strikeouts, and neither was with his changeup. As Cleveland pulled ahead in the fourth inning, Castillo threw 12 sliders, nine fastballs and just six changeups.
“While we had that changeup that was in the zone, it was staying center cut too, we were able to use that slider,” Castillo said through Merlos.
Cleveland second baseman Cesar Hernandez hit one of those changeups down the first base line for a three-run RBI triple. Castillo was pulled at the end of the inning having thrown 84 pitches with a 6.42 ERA on the season.
“(It’s) not the concern level, just more of trying to help (Castillo) figure out what he needs, what adjustments we can help him make,” manager David Bell said. “He continues to work hard. He’s so talented and he’s working, so that’s a great formula to get through it.”
When he was in the game, the Reds defense didn’t stop the damage. Reds left fielder Tyler Naquin dropped a fly ball in left field in the second inning, which allowed Cleveland to score an unearned run later in the inning.
In the fourth, first baseman Mike Moustakas and shortstop Kyle Farmer couldn’t connect on a potential double play that could have ended the inning. Cleveland added on three runs against Castillo to take a 6-1 lead in the fourth.
“I think we're close,” Castillo said through Merlos. “The reason why is we know what's going on and we know what's wrong and we know we can fix it too. I think we're definitely close and we'll be there soon.”
Cincinnati’s offense scored its first run off the starting pitcher since Sunday’s 13-12 win over the Chicago Cubs, but one run was all the Reds scored against Cleveland starting pitcher Aaron Civale.
Moustakas hit a sacrifice fly in the third inning to drive in center fielder Nick Senzel. Civale pitched seven innings and allowed just one run and five hits with five strikeouts.
“We love our offense, but sometimes it’s not easy, and you don't put up the big numbers,” Bell said. “An at-bat like (Moustakas) had today, just the sac fly. We’ve had a lot of good things like that in situations, so we keep doing that.”
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