Everybody in Florida knew Hurricane Allison was rolling in Sunday night. But nobody told the Florida Marlins about Hurricane Frankie.
Frank Castillo continued the best pitching streak of his still-young career by mowing down the Marlins on six hits to lead to the Cubs to a 5-3 victory in the clincher of the three-game weekend series.
“Coming out of winter ball this year, I thought this would be a make-or-break year for me,” said Castillo, who won for the fourth time in his five starts to run his record to 4-2. He lowered his earned-run average to 2.81 and the opponents’ batting average to .218.
“I feel like since spring training I’ve been trying to stay aggressive, and it’s paying off.”
It certainly is. Castillo has twice as many wins already as he had during an injury-plagued 1994. He is just one win shy of his total in 1993, when he started 25 games.
“Frankie’s thrown that way from the first outing in spring training,” said manager Jim Riggleman. “He’s been outstanding. He just threw great.”
Besides the six hits he scattered. Castillo walked two and struck out three in eight-plus innings before giving way to cardiac closer Randy Myers, who allowed an inherited run to score but got the final three outs for his 13th save.
Sammy Sosa provided most of the offensive punch for the Cubs, launching a monster home run over the scoreboard in left-center for one run and keying a three-run rally in the sixth inning with a double into the left-field corner.
Sosa went 5 for 12 with a double, triple, homer and four RBIs in the three-game series.
“I feel good,” said Sosa. “I feel if I play good everybody will follow me.”
The Cubs certainly did Sunday night. The only member of the starting lineup who didn’t get a hit against the hapless Marlins was first baseman Mark Grace, who had his team-high 15-game hitting streak snapped with an 0-for-3 collar. But even Grace got into the scoring act with a sacrifice fly.
Two Cubs had milestone hits in the game. Shortstop Shawon Dunston got the 1,000th hit of his career with a single to left in the eighth inning.
And in the top of the ninth, backup catcher Todd Pratt earned the dubious distinction of becoming the last player in the major leagues on the Opening Day roster this year to get a base hit. His single to center snapped an 0-for-16 nap.
The Cubs have now won all nine of their three-game series this year.
