ARLINGTON, Texas – Cincinnati starting pitcher Johnny Cueto left his start Friday night at Texas only one batter into the second inning because of tightness in his right lat muscle.
Cueto was making only this third start since coming off the disabled list after missing the first half of June with a strained right shoulder. The Reds' opening day starter also missed more than a month earlier this season because of a strained right lat.
After Cueto threw a 1-2 pitch to Mitch Moreland leading off the second inning, catcher Devin Mesoraco went out to the mound. Cueto put the ball into the catcher's mitt, and manager Dusty Baker then went out with a trainer.
Television replays showed Cueto reacting with a strained expression on his face after throwing the fastball that Moreland fouled off. The right-hander was also clearly grimacing after at least one pitch in the first inning.
Cueto gave up a run on two hits in the first inning, the first time in 20 games that Texas scored a run in the first.
Tony Cingrani was given an extended time to warm up after replacing Cueto. Moreland took a called third strike on the first pitch thrown by Cingrani, who then needed 38 more pitches to finish the second inning. Cingrani issued three consecutive full-count walks, the latter two forcing home runs.
Cueto was coming off his worst game of the season. He allowed seven runs and 11 hits over 4 1-3 innings in an 11-5 loss at Arizona a week earlier.
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