Cubs’ Castillo Picture Perfect
National League
If the Chicago Cubs produce an instructional video on pitching, Frank Castillo’s performance Saturday would certainly be featured.
Castillo pitched threehit ball for 8 innings, and the Cubs beat the visiting San Diego Padres 5-0 at Wrigley Field.
“Everything you want in a pitcher, he did today,” Cubs manager Jim Riggleman said. “He mixed his pitches real well, he pitched in and out, he kept the ball down, he really moved the ball around and he changed speeds.”
Castillo (1-1) retired the first nine batters. He escaped a bases-loaded jam in the fourth inning by striking out Roberto Petagine on three pitches.
Expos 6, Mets 1
New York
Mike Lansing hit his second three-run homer in as many days and Pedro Martinez kept up his mastery of New York in Montreal’s win.
Marlins 8, Rockies 2
Miami
Florida won for the first time in nine home games as Bobby Witt allowed just five hits in seven innings for his first N.L. victory.
Giants 6, Pirates 4
San Francisco
Joe Rosselli settled down to win his second consecutive start, and Barry Bonds had three hits as San Francisco beat Pittsburgh to break a fourgame losing streak.
Braves 9, Reds 6
Atlanta
Marquis Grissom’s homer highlighted Atlanta’s biggest inning of the season, a six-run fifth, as Cincinnati had its sixgame winning streak snapped.
Phillies 7, Astros 5
Houston
Charlie Hayes had two hits, including a runscoring triple, and scored twice as Philadelphia rallied to beat Houston.
Cardinals 3, Dodgers 2
Los Angeles
John Frascatore earned his first major-league victory and Ray Lankford and Todd Zeile drove in the tying and go-ahead runs in the sixth inning as St. Louis beat Los Angeles.
Outfield awaits
New York’s Bobby Bonilla might want to start breaking in a new mitt, because the one he’s using at third base is about to become obsolete.
Manager Dallas Green made it clear that, sooner or later, Bonilla will return to right field. The move probably will commence upon Ryan Thompson’s return from the disabled list. Thompson is rehabilitating his right elbow in Triple-A and could be back in 10-12 days.
“It’s always been a possibility,” was Green’s response to a question about Bonilla being moved to the outfield. “Everybody makes a big deal about that, but you know we’ve discussed it.
Clearing the bases
Bip Roberts was impressed the first time he saw San Diego’s 1994 No. 1 draft pick, Dustin Hermanson, making his major-league debut last week. “I watched him throw that first fastball and I thought, ‘Let’s see you guys hit that,”’ Roberts said of a ball clocked at 95 mph. … The loss of Bryan Harvey has opened the door in Florida for right-hander Richie Lewis, an original Marlin who wasn’t on the 40-man roster this spring. Lewis struck out 11 and allowed just two hits in his first three appearances. … Len Dykstra has reached base in 15 of the Phillies’ 16 games. If the Marlins could keep their early pace, they would steal 195 bases over the 144-game schedule. … The heart of the Colorado batting order - Dante Bichette, Larry Walker and Andres Galarraga - has dubbed itself the Blake Street Bombers. Coors Field is located on Blake Street.