Phillies send Smith to minors, recall Castro

The Phillies optioned lefthanded reliever Matt Smith to Triple A Ottawa and recalled lefthander Fabio Castro before today's game against Washington.

Castro, 22, was 2-0 with a 3.24 ERA in six appearances for Ottawa. Opponents were hitting .194 (6-for-31) against him. Castro went 0-1 with a 1.54 ERA in 16 games last season with the Phillies and did not allow a run through his first 17 1/3 innings.

Smith, 27, posted an 11.25 ERA in nine games for the Phillies this season. He walked three and allowed a run in the seventh inning in last night's win over Washington. He had walked 11 in four innings over his nine outings. The Phillies' brass met behind closed doors after the game, perhaps to discuss Smith's immediate fate.

Smith was acquired by the Phillies last summer as part of the trade that sent Bobby Abreu and the late Cory Lidle to the Yankees.