The arrival of Luis Castillo to the Chicago White Sox has been challenging. After being traded from the Seattle Mariners a month ago, Castillo faced difficulties in three of his five August outings, allowing at least four runs each time. His struggles continued into September when he gave up six runs in four innings during a 6-2 defeat to the Houston Astros at Daikin Park. Manager Will Venable acknowledged Castillo’s efforts to adjust, stating, “Luis has been doing a really good job of trying to make adjustments but hasn’t found the right one yet.” He expressed hope that Castillo would find better results in his upcoming starts.
In Castillo’s 78-pitch performance, he allowed six hits, struck out three, walked two, and hit one batter. The Sox lost three out of four in the series, completing their trip to Minnesota and Houston with a 3-4 record. Despite the loss, the Sox continued to lead the American League Central, three games ahead of the Cleveland Guardians, who also lost to the Toronto Blue Jays.
Early in the game, Castillo encountered difficulty. Isaac Paredes walked after a ten-pitch battle with two outs in the first inning. Shortly afterward, Jose Altuve hit a high fastball over the left-field wall, securing a two-run homer. The Sox responded with two runs in the second inning. Jake Rogers obtained an RBI from an infield single, while Sam Antonacci contributed with a tying run single. Their efforts yielded four of the team’s seven hits during the second inning but limited them to one hit over the subsequent six innings.
Venable praised the team’s initial efforts, stating, “I thought it was really nice to see our guys answer there with some really good at-bats.” However, Astros starter Hunter Brown settled in, and the Sox were unable to maintain their momentum against his pitching. The Sox left runners stranded on the corners in the second as Munetaka Murakami struck out to end the inning, finishing a disappointing trip with a record of 3-for-24.
Astros took control of the game with four runs in the third inning. Paredes broke the tie with an RBI double and scored from Daulton Varsho’s two-run triple. Christian Walker added with an RBI single, extending the lead. Castillo worked through a leadoff double in the fourth before he was replaced.
“Credit to Altuve, driving that ball out when it was like a foot and a half up out of the zone,” Venable said, noting Castillo’s challenges with hard contact. Castillo’s ERA stood at 7.52 in six starts, with 22 earned runs in 26 1/3 innings.
Reflecting on Castillo’s performance, Venable expressed confidence: “We believe in him. He’s here to help us. His job is to give us a chance to win.” The Sox see Castillo’s potential and are willing to support him in making necessary adjustments.
Castillo, committed to improvement, indicated to Venable his responsibility to the team and his determination to perform. “I’m struggling right now, and I have a responsibility that I owe to this team to perform,” Castillo said. Throughout challenges, Castillo remains focused on contributing to the team’s success.
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