Frank Castillo could hardly believe it when his Iowa pitching coach, Grant Jackson, told him he was supposed to join the Cubs in Pittsburgh Wednesday. He could barely sleep before catching a morning flight. And he was still living a dream when he walked onto the field in deserted, 55,000-seat Three Rivers Stadium several hours before Wednesday night`s game.
”I went out there kind of in awe,” said the 22-year-old righty, who makes his major league debut as the starting pitcher Thursday night. ”I couldn`t believe this many people would come to watch a baseball game.”
There isn`t likely to be a full house for the game, but Castillo said he would fly his parents and sister in from his hometown of El Paso, Texas, for the event.
Castillo, a Cubs` sixth-round pick in 1987, knows the significance of Thursday night`s game against the first-place Pirates. He said he`d try to block it out and concentrate on facing a team he`s only watched on television. ”I know they have Bobby Bonilla, Andy Van Slyke and Barry Bonds,”
Castillo said. ”It`s going to be a huge challenge. I`ve never pitched against guys like that before.”
Castillo`s best pitch is his changeup, which he said he`ll use even when he`s behind in the count. He doesn`t fall behind often; he walked only seven in 25 innings at Iowa.
That hurts: Danny Jackson`s latest visit to the disabled list Wednesday is his seventh in 24 months.
A fresh start: Les Lancaster`s victory Tuesday night was his first in three tries since joining the Cub rotation. Lancaster has lasted two outs longer each start-from 5 2/3 innings to 6 1/3 innings to 7-plus innings. He has a 2.84 earned run average as a starter.
Stealing slumber: When Mike LaValliere stole second base against Greg Maddux and Rick Wilkins Wednesday night, it was his first swipe since Sept. 21, 1988. A break for Bell?: Darryl Strawberry`s decision not to attend the All-Star Game probably will clinch a spot for Cub outfielder George Bell, sixth in the fan voting. Strawberry, the leading vote-getter among National League outfielders, won`t play because of an injured shoulder. Bell is second in the league with 15 home runs.
Minor (league) swap: The Cubs Wednesday sent minor league pitcher David Rosario to the New York Yankees` organization for pitcher Steve Adkins, a 26- year-old lefty. Adkins, 4-5 with a 5.52 ERA for Triple-A Columbus, was assigned to Iowa.