Randy Wells returns; Cubs lose 4-3 to the Reds; Starlin Castro ok after taking a pitch to elbow

The Cubs lost to the Reds today, 4-3 at a chilly Wrigley Field.  I was at the game and can attest that the wind was definitely blowing in and hardly let up throughout the game.

Randy Wells made his first start of the season and ended up with a no-decision.  He gave up just two runs over five innings.  Unfortunately, the Cubs' offense couldn’t score more than twice in today's game to win the series.

Wells was pitching in place of Ryan Dempster, who was put on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right quad.  Wells started the 2012 season at Triple-A Iowa, after competing for a spot in the Cubs' starting rotation. 

"It's always tough to watch your teammates on TV, but we were down there [with Iowa] and it was what had to happen and you can't sit there and dwell on it," Wells said.  "You have to do what you can do down there to help your team win.  It's good to be back up.  The circumstances are rough. Hopefully I can pitch better the next time out and we'll see what happens."

Randy Wells made his first start of the season today in place of Ryan Dempster, who is on the DL

Manager Dale Sveum said, "He got some big outs when he had to.  He made some pitches and did a good job for five innings and did a good job getting out of some jams."

The Cubs had one scare in the seventh inning when Starlin Castro was hit on his left elbow by Cueto's pitch.  “I felt like it broke my whole arm the first time he hit me,” Castro said.  “But after I lay down [on the dirt] and ran the bases, the hurt was gone and I felt pretty good.”

Starlin Castro receives applause after he recovers from being hit in the elbow during the seventh inning

Castro ended up staying in the game and wore a protective brace on his elbow in the ninth when he tripled off former Cub Sean Marshall.  “I think [Castro] was more shocked [after he was hit],” Dale Sveum said. “I don’t think it got him on the bone — it got him more on the flesh, thank God.”

It was a chilly but beautiful day for Cubs baseball today

Tomorrow the Cubs will face the Cardinals at Wrigley Field at 7:05pm CST, where Matt Garza will be the starting pitcher.  The team will also have to make another roster move to make room for relief pitcher Michael Bowden, who was acquired yesterday in the trade with the Boston Red Sox for Marlon Byrd.