Mark Grace didn’t even have a chance to put his clothes on before first-base coach Dan Radison was at his side trying to make sure the Cubs never lose another game the way they did Wednesday.
Grace was just one of four players involved in the botched pickoff that gave the Padres the game’s only run. And all four made mistakes. But Grace got it started by giving up the ball to shortstop Jose Hernandez too soon.
“We just talked about making sure you get that runner going hard to second base before you give up the ball,” said Radison. “That first mistake leads to all the others.”
Missing in action: The most glaring error was pitcher Steve Trachsel failing to cover first base on the rundown. It stunned Grace. “He’s been pitching his whole life. He knows where he’s supposed to be on that play,” said Grace. Then, in mitigation, he said: “I feel bad because Trax pitched a whale of a ballgame.”
High-flying: Frank Castillo’s next win will be his seventh of the season. That equals the total number of wins he had in 1993 and ’94 combined. Castillo is 6-2 with a 2.51 earned-run average, fifth best in the National League. His next start is Sunday against the Astros. With his win against the Padres on Tuesday night, Castillo improved his career record in the majors to 29-29.
Coming back: Right-hander Jose Guzman is eligible to come off the 60-day disabled list on Friday, but the Cubs are still deciding when and where to send him for a rehab assignment. Guzman is scheduled to pitch batting practice Thursday in Houston. He has been out since undergoing shoulder surgery June 1, 1994.
Coming around: Catcher Rick Wilkins is showing signs of breaking out of his season-long slump. He was 3 for 7 in the final two games of the San Diego series before getting robbed of a home run in his last at-bat.