HOUSTON — Luis Castillo’s tenure with the Chicago White Sox has been challenging since his trade from the Seattle Mariners. Despite efforts to adjust his performance, Castillo faced difficulties in his outings, including a rough start in September.
On Thursday, Castillo allowed six runs over four innings in a 6-2 loss to the Houston Astros, witnessed by 24,155 fans at Daikin Park. Manager Will Venable recognized Castillo’s dedication to improvements but noted the absence of effective changes so far.
“Luis has been working hard to adjust. He’s yet to find the right approach,” Venable said. “He’ll continue doing his best for better results in upcoming games.”
In this outing, Castillo gave up six hits, struck out three, walked two, and hit one batter during a 78-pitch effort. Despite Castillo’s challenges, the White Sox maintain their first place in the American League Central, three games ahead of the Cleveland Guardians.
Castillo’s game started rough, with Jose Altuve’s two-run home run following Isaac Paredes’ walk in the first inning. The White Sox tied the game in the second inning with runs from Jake Rogers and Sam Antonacci. They suffered from limited success afterward, managing just one hit over the last six innings.
“It was good to see early responses from our hitters,” Venable remarked. “Hunter Brown’s solid pitching limited our opportunities. The team showed focus and energy but couldn’t capitalize against him.”
Munetaka Murakami struggled in the game, ending on a 0-for-4 streak with three strikeouts. Murakami stressed the significance of maintaining focus amid success and hardships.
“Consistency in approach is key, even during challenging times,” Murakami said.
The Astros took control with four runs in the third inning led by Paredes’ RBI double. Daulton Varsho’s triple and Christian Walker’s single extended their advantage.
Venable expressed confidence in Castillo’s abilities despite his rough season, holding a 7.52 ERA over six starts. Conversations between Venable and Castillo aimed at boosting the pitcher’s confidence and reaffirming his role in the team.
“We trust in Luis to give us competitive outings,” Venable stated. “Supporting him as he works on adjustments is crucial.”
Castillo acknowledged the challenges he faced and expressed his commitment to improving his performance for the team.
“I know I’ve struggled, but I’m committed to performing well for the team,” Castillo said.
The upcoming games will test Castillo’s ability to implement necessary changes for better results.