Reds Rally To Take Advantage Of Luis Castillo's Best Start

The Reds appeared to have wasted Luis Castillo's best outing but rallied with four eighth inning runs to post a 5-3 win over the Chicago White Sox.

It wasn't a pinch hitting pitcher this time but rookie Alex Blandino delivered the deciding blow, driving home the go-ahead runs off Chris Volstad.  The Reds cashed in on their third bases loaded opportunity.

http://www.wiedemannbeer.com/

"Pinch hitting is something I've been working on.  You're facing the back end of the bullpens," Blandino said.  "Just stand on their best pitch.  I just wanted to put the ball in play.  It was more the zone he was throwing,  Since he (Volstad) had shown me both pitches, I knew how it would move. I don't know if they were strikes or not but the breaking ball was up and something I could handle."

Scott Schebler opened the game for the Reds with his 11th home run on James Shields' first pitch.

From then on it was all Shields and Luis Castillo as offense was a luxury.

The Reds did mount a further first inning threat.  The team that leads baseball with a .345 on-base-percentage, loaded the bases with two outs.  Jose Peraza, who belted a grand slam on Sunday, popped to second base to end the threat.

Castillo scattered five hits and the Schebler committed an error, dropping a line drive hit by Daniel Palka in the fourth.  Omar Narvaez singled with two outs.  It was the only inning in the first six that the White Sox had more than one runner on base.

http://donatelifeohio.org/

"That was the best he's pitched in awhile," Jim Riggleman said.  "It was more like we saw from him last year."

Shields' dodged bullet hit by Joey Votto in the fifth with Schebler, who doubled standing on second base.  Votto's line drive turned right fielder, Avisail Garcia around but he was able to reach back on the run to end the inning with a catch.  The White Sox starter limited the Reds to three hits through six innings with line drives right at fielders, two picked off by Jose Abreu at first base.

Loveland, Ohio's Adam Engel singled with one out in the seventh.  Shields bunted him to second.
Castillo was removed by Jim Riggleman in favor of Amir Garrett.  The 6 2/3 inning stint matched Castillo's longest outing of the season.  He also pitched 6 2/3 against Milwaukee on April 16 in a 10-4 Reds' win.

"It was a well pitched game by Shields and Castillo," Riggleman said.  "Moncado and Sanchez were getting that fourth look at him (Castillo).  That was as long as he'd been in awhile.  I felt like I'd turn those two switch hitters around but it didn't go our way."

Castillo thought it was his best outing of the season.

"It was a quality outing. Even though I didn't get the win, I'm happy that the team did," Castillo said through interpreter Julio Murillo.  "I think this was the best of the year.  The other I gave up some home runs and walks.  Today I was working with Tucker and everything was good.  I was feeling strong and I wanted to finish but I don't make that decision but I feel really good about it."

Yoan Moncada hit a double down the line in left off Garrett to tie the game.  Yolmer Sanchez hit a bad hop single off Eugenio Suarez' glove at third to give the White Sox a 2-1 lead.  Jared Hughes relieved Garrett.  Matt Davidson batted for Abreu, who played defense for an inning after fouling a ball off his left ankle.

Adam Duvall singled with one out in the bottom of the seventh.  Billy Hamilton forced Duvall at second.  Schebler reached base for the third time with a walk.  Shields was replaced by Juan Minaya, who faced Tucker Barnhart with the tying run in scoring position.  Minaya walked Barnhart on four pitches, bringing Votto to the plate with the bases loaded.  Luis Avilan, a left-hander came in to face the left-handed Votto, the owner of one grand slam of the nine the Reds hit to date.  Votto flied to center on a 3-0 pitch.

"I like Joey's aggressiveness," Riggleman said.  "And Tucker was hitting 3-0 but he took ball four.  It's a matter of trust.  I know that Tucker is going to swing at a strike or take a ball.  I trust that Joey would do the same.  He ripped that pitch."

Garcia, who extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a single in the fourth, hit his fifth home run in the eighth off Hughes.

Dylan Floro pitched out of a second and third situation to keep it a two-run game.

The Reds greeted Chris Volstad with a single by Scooter Gennett and a double by Suarez putting runners on second and third with no out.   Brandon Dixon, who entered on a double switch, struck out swinging.  Peraza walked to load the bases for the third time in the game, bringing Duvall to the plate.  Duvall hit a one hop ground ball to the first baseman Matt Davison, who replaced the injured Abreu.  Davidson charged toward first but threw home where the force was in effect.  Catcher Narvaez went to his knees to take the throw.  Gennett beat the tag and was ruled safe.  A review confirmed that Narvaez, neither tagged the plate nor Gennett.  Hamilton hit a sacrifice fly to center.  Engle's throw was cut off as Suarez scored.   Peraza slid into third and ruled safe.  A crew chief review upheld that call too.  Blandino hit for Floro with runners at second and third.  Blandino delivered with a double to give the Reds a 5-3 lead.  Barnhart walked against Hector Santiago.  This time Votto fell behind 0-2 before working the count full before striking out swinging.

Raisel Iglesias sought his 16th save in 18 chances when he entered in the ninth to face the top of the White Sox order.  Iglesias struck out two in a perfect inning.