CHICAGO -- Cincinnati Reds pitcher Rhett Lowder exited his start Thursday against the Chicago Cubs in the bottom of the fourth inning with right shoulder discomfort.
Lowder threw 59 pitches before leaving the game with the Cubs leading 1-0.
He opened the inning with a pair of walks on nine pitches, then threw a change-up in the dirt to Michael Busch and called for a trainer. After a brief conversation with manager Terry Francona, Lowder left the game.
Lowder gave up a solo home run to Michael Conforto in the second inning and was charged with three earned runs on one hit, four walks and a strikeout in three innings pitched after reliever Connor Phillips allowed both of the inherited base runners to score. The Cubs scored seven runs in the inning, their highest-scoring inning of the season, to take an 8-0 lead.
Lowder came into the game with a 3-2 record and 5.09 ERA in six starts. The home run to Conforto was the second he has allowed in 13 career starts.