Cincinnati Reds starter Rhett Lowder exited his start in the bottom of the fourth inning with right shoulder discomfort, the report says. Lowder threw 59 pitches before departing with the Chicago Cubs leading 1-0.
He began the fourth by issuing consecutive walks on nine pitches and then delivered a changeup in the dirt to Michael Busch, after which he summoned a trainer, according to the report. A brief discussion with manager Terry Francona followed and Lowder did not return to the mound.
Lowder allowed a solo home run to Michael Conforto in the second inning and was charged with three earned runs, one hit, four walks and a strikeout in three innings pitched, the report says. Reliever Connor Phillips entered and both of Lowder’s inherited runners eventually scored.
The Cubs produced seven runs in the inning — their highest-scoring frame of the season — to pull ahead 8-0, per the report. That scoring outburst included the two inherited runners that scored after Lowder left the game.
Coming into the start, Lowder held a 3-2 record and a 5.09 ERA in six starts, the report says. The home run to Conforto marked the second he has surrendered in 13 career starts.
