Luis Castillo Makes David Bell Look Good In Win Over Braves

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When rookie manager David Bell announced that Luis Castillo would be the Opening Day starter, it caused a raft of raised eyebrows and head scratching.  The Atlanta Braves were scratching in the 4-2 Reds' win.

Not only did Castillo have inferior statistical numbers in spring training where the announcement was made, the Reds brought in three experienced pitchers, Alex Wood, Sonny Gray and Tanner Roark onto the club in trades.  Anthony DeSclafani, who had a couple full seasons under his belt and was actually named to start Opening Day twice, only to have injuries prevent him from taking the honor.

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Through six starts in April, Castillo made Bell and his staff look good.  They saw quality work beyond the numbers.  Castillo entered the game with a 1.47 ERA, allowing five runs in 30 2/3 innings.  He pitched seven innings twice.  Three of his five starts were quality starts.

On Wednesday, Castillo shut the Braves out for six innings, and retired nine batters in a row after the third inning.  The Braves got to him in the seventh, loading the bases on consecutive singles from Acuna, Brian McCann and Johan Camargo.  Bell brought in David Hernandez, who struck out Dansby Swanson, Ender Inciarte and pinch hitter Ozzie Albies to preserve the shut out.

"It was fun to watch David (Hernandez).  He was aggressive. Luis pitched so well but his pitch count got up there," David Bell said.

 Castillo pitched six innings, allowing eight hits but no walks.  He struck out two.  Castillo now has a 1.23 ERA on the season.

"David Hernandez won this game," said Castillo through interpreter Julio Morillo.  "I thanked him before.  I thank him even more now.  I didn't have my best stuff but I thought I pitched pretty well."

As Castillo said, the save rule showed its flaws.  Hernandez really got the key outs when the Reds' needed them the most.  It didn't appear to matter to Hernandez as he basked in the glow of the Reds fifth win in the last seven games to pull their record to 10-14.

"I came into the game thinking don't walk any body," Hernandez said.  "I was just going to use fastballs and sliders, get ahead and expand the strike zone.  I don't think I've ever come into a game and got three strikeouts.  I've loaded them myself and got out of them but not like this."

"Geno had a good night offensively, said Bell of Suarez.  "Defensively he made three or four nice plays.  He's worked so hard on his defense."


Rain put the game in a delay in the middle of the seventh inning which lasted 2:45 minutes before Jose Peraza batted and walked for the first time this season.

Zach Duke picked up for Hernandez in the eighth inning.

Nick Markakis grounded out to start the inning. Josh Donaldson reached on an infield hit.  Freddie Freeman cut the Reds' lead to 3-2 with his third home run of the year.

Raisel Iglesias came into the game to pitch to Acuna.  Acuna walked but Iglesias struck out Brian McCann and got Camargo to fly out harmlessly to left field.

Kyle Farmer's eighth inning sacrifice fly gave Iglesias some breathing room.

Iglesias allowed a harmless single but earned his sixth save in seven tries by getting Markakis to line out to Yasiel Puig.

Braves Score Early To Even The Series Against The Reds

Ozzie Albies hit the first pitch of the game from Tanner Roark for his third home run to start the game setting the tone for a 3-1 Atlanta Braves win.

"The first pitch of the game was poorly located," Roark said.  "I knew he would swing first pitch.  It was poor execution.  I didn't want one pitch in the game to dictate how the game goes."

Mike Soroka and the Braves bullpen limited the Reds to one run on five hits.

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"It is hard to admit this sometimes when you compete but you have to give credit to the pitcher, who pitched a heck of a game," Bell said.  "I still like the direction we're going.  You don't give in to somebody pitching a good game but there is time to give them credit.  He deserves some credit."

The Reds took it right back off Soroka in the bottom of the inning.  Joey Votto walked to start the game.  Eugenio Suarez and Jesse Winker hit singles to allow Votto to score.  Soroka went to work and struck out Yasiel Puig and Derek Dietrich then ended the inning by coaxing a ground out to second base by Tucker Barnhart.

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The Braves kept threatening Roark by placing two runners on base in the third and fourth inning and loading the bases in the fourth and got nothing to show for it.

They needed Puig to spring a leak in right field to take a slim lead.  Roark hit Freddie Freeman with a pitch to put the Braves' slugger on base.  Ronald Acuna Jr. forced Freeman at second and scored when Nick Markakis sinking line drive in front of Puig got past him for a two-base error that allowed Acuna to score.

The play cost Roark a decision but he went to Puig with encouragement.

"I will never be mad if someone dives to catch the ball," Roark said. "If a guy circles the bases inside the park, I don't care.  I will always praise the effort to do that.  You busted your ass trying to get there. It didn't work out but I love it."

Bell pointed out that Puig has made some plays by being aggressive and liked Roark's reaction to it.

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"Yassi made an aggressive attempt on the ball.  He's made some great plays by doing that this one didn't work out," Bell said.  "It doesn't surprise me that Tanner talked to Puig.  Tanner is a good teammate and a professional.  There is a lot of those things going on."


The Reds loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth against Soroka.  Atlanta manager Brian Snitker brought in veteran Josh Tomlin, who was signed to a minor league contract on March 21.  The former Cleveland Indians starter was with the Milwaukee Brewers this spring but was placed on waivers.  Tomlin made one pitch and got pinch hitter Scott Schebler to ground hard to Freeman at first base.Da

Luke Jackson and Dan WinkLer preserved the one-run lead until the Braves scored an insurance run in the ninth off Bob Stephenson, who was the winning pitcher Tuesday night.  Albies walked and scored on a double by Josh Donaldson with no outs.  Stephenson retired the Braves with no further damage.

A.J. Minter entered in the ninth inning looking for his third save of the season and second in his last two appearances.  He saved the April 20 win over Cleveland by striking out the side.  He struck out pinch hitter Curt Casali, leading off the ninth for Cincinnati.  Phil Ervin grounded out.  Pinch hitter Jose Peraza flied out to center to end the game.

To Bunt Or Not To Bunt

A key play to the Reds win last night was Derek Dietrich's bunt single against the shift over the Atlanta Braves.

The left-handed pull hitting batter was at the plate with one out and a runner on first base when he bunted to the left side of the infield for a single. Dietrich became the go-ahead run in the sixth inning.  He scored on a double by Jose Peraza.

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The time to do it is when runners are needed.  In Dietrich's situation, he had the tying run on base.  An extra base hit would tie the game.  The problem is that the shift is primarily used to get outs but it also makes an extra base hit short of a home run less likely.

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"Sometimes with two outs it depends who is hitting behind you," Bell said.  "It might make more sense for one of your best hitters to drive in a run.  A runner on first base and two outs might be an extreme example depending on who is hitting behind you.  You might want to drive in the run instead of getting on base and getting the next guy to do it.  If it is a guy who can get an extra base hit, you want them to do that.  I will say a runner is a runner.  There are more opportunities to get an extra runner, we'd take.  The other thing is, you don't always get it down.  Some of these pitchers we're facing it is not always easy to get the bunt down.  All of a sudden you are at a disadvantage in the count if you foul it off.  There is some strategy to it."

It boils down to the times you need a base runner or a time you need and extra base hit.

Defensively, there are times when Bell will shift to invite a certain hitter to bunt.  Generally, it is the hitters that he uses the four-man outfield against.

"There are times when you ask yourself if you want to take the bunt away or do you want to prevent the extra base hit," Bell said.  "A lot of times, you will give him the bunt with two outs and a runner on first because worst case scenario, it will be first and second and the next guy will be up there to hit. You may pitch around a hitter.  It is the same with the bunt."

Bell gave an extreme example on the other side.

"Say the best left-handed hitter in the game comes up in the ninth inning and they are down by two runs.  The bunt is a great play because you need another runner to tie the game.  Either they hit a home run or get on base.  They need one of those for the tying run.  It would depend on who is hitting next."

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Reds Take Advantage Of Wild Braves Pitchers To Rally For A Win

The Reds took advantage of wildness from the Atlanta Braves pitchers to post a four-run sixth on the way to a 7-6 win.  Atlanta pitchers walked nine batters in eight innings to help the Reds' cause.

For the first four innings Sonny Gray and the Reds had the game against the Atlanta Braves under control.

Gray struck out five of the first seven Braves batters until Ender Inciarte singled to right for their first hit in the third inning.

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The Reds got to Braves starter Kevin Gausman early.  Jesse Winker hit a single with two outs and Yasiel Puig hit a line shot for his third home run off the facade of the upper deck in left field.  Tucker Barnhart led off the fourth inning with his second home run of the season and the Reds had a 3-0 lead.

There was a group of fans down the right field line, cheering on Puig, who is nicknamed "Wild Horse.  They were chanting Puig is my friend.

"I was surprised to see the fans in right field cheering for me.  I want to thank them for supporting me and my teammates.  I saw the horses, the Cuban flag," Puig said.  "There must be a lot of Cuban people in Cincinnati.  I have to meet some of them to find a good Cuban restaurant. I love to eat rice and beans but my mother and girlfriend don't want me to eat a lot of them because they say I need to have a good body to play. The home run I just tried to do the best I can and have fun with my teammates.  I need to work hard for my teammates.  I think some more rice and beans will help me hit more."


Gray carried the scoreless game into the fifth inning until Dansby Swanson tripled into the left field corner leading off the inning.   Puig caught Tyler Flower's fly ball to medium right field and threw home.  Swanson scored when Inciarte flied out to Scott Schebler in center field.

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The Braves turned Sonny blue in the sixth inning Ozzie Albies singled for the Braves' third hit.  Josh Donaldson hit a lazy fly down the left field line.  Winker missed the sliding attempt to catch the ball and Albies scored with Donaldson reaching second base for a double.  Freddie Freeman singled down the line for a game-tying single.  Ronald Acuna reached on a ground ball to Eugenio Suarez who fumbled the ball out of his glove.  It was ruled an error.  Gray's wild pitch allowed the runners to move up a base.  Freeman scored the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly by Nick Markakis.  Bob Stephenson relieved Gray and struck out Swanson and Flowers.  Those two outs earned Stephenson his second win.

"Unfortunately things happened there in that inning," Gray said.  "But I also got myself in bad counts.  I have to figure out a way to stay in the game longer."


The Reds regained the lead against Gausman in the bottom of the inning.  Jose Iglesias or Joe Church as he called himself when he became a US citizen, hit a ball through Donaldson's legs at third base.  Pinch hitter Derek Dietrich foiled the shift with a bunt single. 

Two weeks ago his father suggested that he bunt on the shift.  'I said I don't know dad," Dietrich said.  "You usually give me good tips but....."

On Tuesday Delino DeShields walked into the clubhouse and told players to meet him on the field to work on bunting.

"I said that's one less chance to hit a home run," Dietrich said in jest.  "Then I put four or five on the line so when I got up I thought alright this is a good time.  It was good to see Peraza get that big hit after it.  It was good to see the look on Delino's face when I got to first base."

Former Braves farmhand, who Braves manager Brian Snitker managed in the minors, came to bat with just one RBI which came on a home run.  Peraza, batting ninth in the order, faced Gausman with 10 hits on the season and a .154 average.  The second baseman doubled down the line to drive in two runs and give the Reds the lead.   Snitker brought in left hander to face the leadoff man, Joey Votto.  Biddle walked Votto.  He walked Suarez to load the bases.  He walked Phil Ervin, who was recalled this afternoon to take over for the injured Matt Kemp, walked to drive in a run on a 3-2 pitch.  Wes Parsons came in to face Puig.  Puig skied high and deep to left for a sacrifice fly.  Suarez and Ervin advanced a base.  Schebler walked to reload the bases.  Barnhart became the 10th batter in the inning.  He struck out for the second time in the inning.

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Wandy Peralta was summoned to hold the lead.

Inciarte bunted for a single.  Pinch hitter Charlie Culbertson doubled to drive Inciarte home with the Braves' fifth run.  Albies hit into a fielder's choice as Iglesias cut down Culbertson at third.  David Hernandez struck out Donaldson and Freeman to end the threat.

Jared Hughes entered the game in the eighth.  Hughes walked Markakis with one out and Swanson doubled to send Markakis home.  Flowers struck out as Swanson stole third.  Amir Garrett relieved Hughes with a man on third and two outs.

Inciarte ended the threat with a ground out to Peraza.

The Reds loaded the bases on two walks and a single by Puig but didn't score in the bottom of the eighth.

The Reds put Michael Lorenzen in center field to start the ninth.  Raisell Iglesias started the ninth looking for his fifth save in six tries.  Matt Joyce opened the ninth with a double.  Albies popped out on a bunt attempt.  Josh Donaldson flied out deep to Lorenzen two steps from the wall.  Joyce moved to third carrying the tying run.  Iglesias had to face Freeman to make the save, getting him to ground out to Votto, who flipped to Iglesias.

After a tough eight game losing streak the Reds have won eight of the last 13 games.

"Sonny was outstanding.  A couple of things happened unfortunately that extended the inning and made him work; a couple balls down the line," Bell said. "It wasn't easy but we did enough good things to get a win.  We had a lot of good at bat.  Dietrich's bunt was huge.  I think we're getting better.  It was a great play by Dietrich.  He's had a lot of big hits for us, home runs but the bunt there was good timing.  There are times when you'd rather see him hit away but that one came a great time."

Matt Kemp Fought The Wall And The Wall Won

To paraphrase  Bobby Fuller in 1965, Matt Kemp fought the wall and the wall won.

Of course Fuller fought the law and Kemp attacked the left field wall in San Diego and lost the battle.

"The wall won as it usually does," said Kemp who broke a rib on his left side after trying to catch a fly ball hit by Wil Myers on Sunday.  Kemp made hard contact with the wall an instant before the ball deflected off his glove for a game-deciding two-run double.  It was a key play in the Reds' 4-3 loss to the Padres.  "It was weird.  I hit the wall with my right side but broke the rib on my left side.  I took an at bat and something told me that I shouldn't be out there."

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The Reds placed Kemp on the 10-day Injured List and brought back Phil Ervin from Triple A Louisville.

"We feel for him (Kemp)," David Bell said.  "He did everything he could to make the catch and to stay in the game.  He's a tough guy. Hopefully, he's back out there soon."

As anyone who has had a rib injury will tell you.  It hurts to breath and really hurts to laugh, cough or do any normal function that makes the ribs move.  He is expected to miss a couple weeks.

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Kemp was hitting an even .200 with a home run and five RBI in 60 at bats when he left Sunday's game.


"I had just started to swing better," Kemp said.

Ervin was one of the better hitters statistically in spring training but with options left, the Reds sent him to Louisville.  Ervin was called up to be the temporary 26th man when the Reds played in Mexico.  He hit a triple on his first pitch. He was hitting .224 for the Bats.

His experience in Mexico was a reward for his spring.  Like a consolation prize.  "It was a good experience," Ervin said.  "I had never been there it was kind of cool to see how the fans reacted."

Bell expects Ervin to be helpful while Kemp recovers.

"We will start the current outfield," said Bell who put Jesse Winker, Scott Schebler and Yasiel Puig in the lineup against the Atlanta Braves.  "We want to keep Phil engaged.  We will look for opportunities to get starts for Phil.  I saw what he could do in spring training.  He had a great spring.  He was a big part of the team last year.  We know that we are going to need all of our guys this season."

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Reds Catch Marlins In A Sweep

For the third straight day the Reds took advantage of the Miami Marlins with a 5-0 win.

Sonny Gray pitched four scoreless innings but left the game when a line drive he took as a direct hit of the bat of former Reds' farmhand, Miguel Rojas, leading off the second inning.   Gray took some warm up tosses and remained in the game.  When Lewis Brinson struck out for the fifth straight time in the series, Rojas apparently stole second base.  Curt Casali's throw died near the pitcher's mound.  Home plate umpire Greg Gibson, ruled that Brinson interfered with Casali's throw.  Rojas was called out.

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"The key to the game was Sonny staying in the game two more innings," Gray said.  "If he's not able to do that it would have made it tough.  He wanted to stay in the game but going as long as he did really set the bullpen up.  Clearly he took a hard shot.  He was limping around a little bit.  Those things have a tendency to tighten up.  The decision was to protect him.  We wanted to make sure he didn't compensate and hurt something else."

Gray is confident that he can pitch in his next start which will be Wednesday in Los Angeles but they have an off day before the games in Mexico against the Cardinals on Saturday.   Tyler Mahle could come back with his normal rest.

"It was a great series for us.  I'll be fine.  I'll be alright.  I would have liked to continue to go out but that wasn't the case," Gray said.  "Our guys came in and shut them down, like they've been doing. It's not a great feeling but it hit me in a good spot."

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The cerebral Pablo Lopez, who started for the Marlins, was pitch for pitch with Gray.  Lopez is 23-years old and signed as a non drafted free agent by the Seattle Mariners as a 16-year old out of Cabimas, Venezuela.  He had already been accepted to medical school but chose a baseball career.  He speaks four languages.

The Reds strung three hits together to get on the scoreboard in the fourth.  Jesse Winker and Joey Votto singled to start the inning.  Eugenio Suarez hit an RBI single.

Gray left after four innings with a right calf contusion after it stiffened up on him.   Bob Stephenson pitched a scoreless fifth inning.

The Reds added on to chase Lopez from the game in the fifth.  Casali singled and advanced to second on Jose Iglesias fly out to deep center field.  Pinch hitter Derek Dietrich struck out but Winker walked.  Votto foiled the shift for a second straight time with a single to left that scored Casali.  Yasiel Puig followed with a two-run double that prompted Marlins' manager Don Mattingly to make the pitching change.

Puig finished serving a two-game suspension for his role in the on-field brawl in Pittsburgh on Sunday.

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"I was excited for myself too," Puig said.  "Coming back today after my team winning two games without me, they might say they don't want me to come back.  Maybe my team is better with myself out.  They score 14 runs, a lot of homers, last night they win 2-1, I was a little worried about myself back in the lineup.  I needed to hit something.  We lose to today and I say I need to talk to my manager about sitting me out.  But we win today, I hit a double with two RBI, I feel good."

Zach Duke pitched a scoreless inning.  David Hernandez shut out Miami for two innings.

Suarez hit his third home run against Sergio Romo in the eighth inning to give the Reds a 5-0 lead.

Wandy Peralta pitched the ninth inning with Michael Lorenzen moving into center field for defense. Peralta walked Brian Anderson but Iglesias and Peraza turned a double play one strikeout short of a pizza.

The Reds are off to play games on Saturday and Sunday against the St. Louis Cardinals in Monterrey, Mexico.  It will be counted as home games for the Reds or Los Rojos.

"This will be fun," Bell said.  "I think we will look back and be glad we had the experience.  I am all for taking our game to other parts of the world.  I really don't know what to expect.  I think its great."

The Reds were permitted to add a position player to their roster.  It would be too hard to play a man short if there was an injury while in Mexico.

The Reds named Phillip Ervin, who had a great spring.

"We chose him based on the spring he had and what he's done for the team in the past," Bell said.

Reds Hook Marlins With Late Power Jose Iglesias And Jesse Winker Come Through

A day after scoring 14 runs to break an eight-game losing streak, the Reds were shutdown by Treveor Richards of the Miami Marlins but late power by Jose Iglesias and Jesse Winker gave the Reds a 2-1 victory.

The Reds home runs off Drew Steckenrider were the sixth and seventh in the series.

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Richard was not drafted out of Drury College and worked as a substitute teacher in 2015 and 2016.  The Marlins signed him while he was applying for a job in law enforcement but a Marlins scout signed him off the roster of the Evansville Otters.

Richard and his mound opponent, the Reds' Tyler Mahle were surrounded by baserunners but pitched their way out of trouble until they both found their release points.

It wasn't late offense that won the game for the Reds.  It was early defense.

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Mahle walked four Marlins but gave up one hit in the first two innings.  Neil Walker hit a home run in the third before Mahle retired the last eight batters he faced before he was taken down for a pinch hitter.  Iglesias bailed out Mahle twice with his glove.

In the first inning, Iglesias made a diving stop of a smash up the middle with two runners on by walks.  Iglesias had to dive to smother a ground ball by Starlin Castro and turn it into an inning ending double play.  In the second inning with the bases loaded and two outs.  The Reds had a shift on that put second baseman Derek Dietrich in short right field.  Granderson hit a weak ground ball right to the second baseman's normal spot.  Iglesias scooped the ball with his glove and shoveled it to first as he ran towards Votto to get the third out.

"I am proud of the way we played defense the whole game," said Iglesias the home run hero,  "That play with the bases loaded won the game.  On the home run I was just looking for a pitch to put a good swing on and it went out."

Manager David Bell noted the importance of Dietrich and Iglesias.  Both signed minor league deals after spring training started.

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"I don't consider them bench players," Bell said.  "They are more important to our team than that. People think of Iglesias as a defensive player but he can hit.  He can really hit a fastball.  He's a line drive hitter with some pop."

Mahle left the game with five innings with one glaring mistake, the home run pitch to Walker.  He was unhappy that his four walks kept him from pitching deeper in the game.

"I'm frustrated that on a night when I had good stuff, I could only pitch five innings," Mahle said.  "I was able to get out of trouble thanks to Iglasias.  I just had to be stubborn about what I was doing."

"Tyler really competed," Bell said.  "He got stronger as the game went on and finished strong.  That's a good trait to have.  He could have gone another inning but we decided we needed to hit for him.

Richard had a similar tale to tell. He walked two and gave up a single to Matt Kemp to load the bases in the first inning.  Scott Schebler flied out to shallow center and Joey Votto failed to beat the throw from Lewis Brinson for an inning endign double play.  Richard walked two again in the second inning.  Mahle bunted the runners over but he started a string of 10 straight retired batters before Winker drew a two-out fifth inning walk.  He was thrown out trying to advance on a pitch in the dirt.  Catcher Jorge Alfaro threw him out.

Richard was taken down for a pinch hitter in the top of the seventh.  He pitched six scoreless innings, allowing one hit and five walks.  He struck out seven.

Jared Hughes pitched 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.  Amir Garrett got the final out of the seventh frame.  Garrett pitched a clean eighth before the Reds brought out the home run basts against Steckenrider.

Raisell Iglesias came on in the ninth for his first save giving the Reds it's second straight win.  The closer struck out the side to nail it down.

Reds Bust Loose Against The Marlins

The slump riddled Reds got a shipment of bats that contained some solid wood and used the home run ball to reel in the Miami Marlins for its elusive second win of the season, 14-0.

Home runs by Jesse Winker, Matt Kemp, Eugenio Suarez, Scott Schebler and Kyle Farmer backed the third straight quality outing of Luis Castillo, the surprise Opening Day starter.

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Winker has been going through a rough time but has hit the ball hard without results.

"With all the data they have, fielders are going to be in the right spots more often than not," Winker said.  "It's unfortunate when you don't get results.  I was out early just working on putting the barrel of the bat on the ball.  I went back to the basics.  Everyone wants to get off to a good start but its a marathon.  Delino (DeShields) has been telling me that every time I've past him at first base.  We were like a ticking time bomb."

The Reds, who lost eight straight and been shut out in four of those losses, scored quickly off Jose Urena.  Joey Votto doubled with one out.  Suarez singled to score Votto with the first run in the first inning.   Kemp single with one out in the third set up a run-scoring single by Schebler, who followed Suarez' second hit of the game.    Tucker Barnhart singled to reach base in the fourth inning with a single.  Winker hit an opposite field home run, his first to the seats in left.  A review upheld the umpires call that it left the yard unaided.

While the Reds were building a rare lead, Castillo was allowed three base runners.  Singles by Lewis Brinson and Peter O'Brien were both erased.  Brinson was caught stealing by Barnhart.  O'Brien singled to start the sixth but Rosell Herrera, who played briefly with the Reds, hit into a double play.  Curtis Granderson drew a harmless walk.

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Castillo has three starts.  He allowed one run in 5 2/3 innings getting a no decision on opening day.  He allowed one run in seven innings on one hit against the Milwaukee Brewers.  His balk set up the lone run of the game in a 1-0 loss.  All together, Castillo has pitched 19 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on five hits and eight walks for an ERA of 0.92.  He has 25 strikeouts.

"I'm going through a good time right now," Castillo said through interpreter Tomas Vera.  "I've never had a run like this in the big leagues though."

Marlins manager pulled Urena for left-hander Wei-Yin Chen.

Chen took a beating for his team.

Jose Peraza singled off Chen to start the sixth inning.  Barnhart walked.  They both moved up on a passed ball by catcher Jorge Alfaro.  Winker singled netting him one RBI.  The ball eluded O'Brien in right field as Barnhart scored.   Chen hit Votto with a pitch that rolled six feet away into fair territory.  Votto retrieved it and politely flipped it to Chen on his way to first base.  Kemp hit his first home run of the season to right.  Suarez hit his second home run of the season.  Schebler hit his second of the season.

It was the first time the Reds hit back-to-back-to-back home runs since 2012 when Mike Leake, Zach Cozart and Drew Stubbs did it.

"It is something special for sure because it doesn't happen very often," Schebler said.  "We just need this to carry over to tomorrow.  I kept telling people that when we finally break out it would be a party.  It was fun."

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Chen allowed 10 runs on seven hits and two walks.  He hit a batter and gave up four of the Reds five home runs.

Kyle Farmer's three-run home run off Chen finished the scoring for the night.  It was Farmer's second home run of the season.  The Reds scored just 21 runs in the first nine games.

Michael Lorenzen, who pinch hit for Castillo with the Reds playing a man short with Yasiel Puig suspended for two games, pitched the last two innings.

Freddie Benevides was the manager while David Bell served his one game suspension.  It was a laugher without any tough strategical decisions to make.

"When David told me he was serving his suspension tonight, the adrenaline was there," said Benevides, who percentage wise has a better record than Sparky Anderson.  "Castillo commanded his fastball.  He finished strong last season and it is good to see him carry it forward.  He is turning into a number one starter.  Hopefully, this game carries over.  Kemp and Winker came out early to work with Turner (Ward).  Those guys have a track record.  This was going to happen sooner or later."

Jose Iglesias Wants 'All The Players Of The World To Get Opportunity

Jose Iglesias had to take great risks to play major league baseball.  As an 18-year old Iglesias and his roommate, Noel Arguelles slipped past 11 Cuban security officers in an Edmonton, Canada and with the aid of Arguelles' father, who defected as a national soccer player, crossed the border into the United States in 2008.

A long process of over a year led Iglesias to the Dominican Republic to establish residency which allowed him to sign with the Boston Red Sox in 2009.

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It was risky.  For every player like teammates Raisel Iglesias and Yasiel Puig make it in professional baseball there are dozens who didn't realize their dream.

After Fidel Castro successfully, over threw the Cuban government in 1959, the United States began a policy of refusing its citizens from doing any type of business with Cuban nationals.  That policy cut off a talent pool for the Reds, who signed players like Leo Cardenas, Tony Perez, Chico Ruiz and others to contracts from amateur baseball in Cuba.

Cuban players had to defect, leaving family behind to suffer persecution or worse as Iglesias father Candelario and mother Barbara and his four siblings did.  His father was able to come to the US in 2011.

President Obama lifted the trade restrictions in October of 2016.  Major League Baseball and the Cuban Baseball Federation struck a deal that would allow teams in the US to sign Cuban players directly without having to defect.  The organization jointly announced a list of 34 names of players who could sign contracts in the US.  No more, dangerous defections, no more bribery, no more trusting "coyotes" to not hold players for ransom.  Just a reliance on the free market system to distribute talent among the 30 franchises in the United States.

But Donald Trump in another short sighted, head-up-his-ass political move provided human traffickers with more business opportunities by cancelling the deal for no other reason than Obama was forward thinking.

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Jose Iglesias is not concerned with the politics of the move.   Iglesias, who was raised in a Communist country demonstrated a greater knowledge of the entrepreneurial spirit that provided the American Dream than the born-on-third-base POTUS, who thinks he hit a triple but never had to so much as fill out a resume.

 "I don;t know much about the details but I just feel like every baseball player in the world should get the opportunity and the chance to compete in Major League baseball," Iglesias said.  "It is every player's dream.  It should be a free world, free market and player development.  I think every player should have that opportunity."

Fans all over the country demand to see the best players in the world when they pay their hard earned money.  They understand the concept that competition is good for business and product quality. That investment and risk, reward is essential to the quality of any product.  The fan base expects the team they follow to invest in the best players.  Cuba is one such source of some of the best players in the world.  For two short years baseball was allowed to tap into that pool of talent without the risks that some modern players had to take, to prove themselves on the world stage.  Which is all they asked a chance to prove themselves among the best.

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"We've been through a lot (those players that had to defect) We've been through a lot to get to this point," Iglesias said. "We don't want others to experience it that way.  It's not just hard.  It can be very, very dangerous.  It is very sad to see it going that way.  Again, I think every player in the world should get the opportunity to compete."

Balk Haunts Luis Castillo As Freddy Krueger Peralta Terrifies Reds

It was gloomy and gruesome on a day where the sun shined liberally on the Great American Ball Park crowd who witnessed the Reds third straight one-run loss, 1-0.  It was the second time in four games the Reds were shutout.

Freddie Peralta wasn't wearing a mask but pitched to the Reds as if they were blind folded.

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The Reds got a single from Eugenio Suarez but not so much as a ground out in Peratlta's eight scoreless innings.  Suarez singled to begin the Reds' second inning.  Peralta retired the next 20 Reds' batters and 23 out of 24, amassing 11 strikeouts until Curt Casali singled to left, two outs into the eighth.  Puig swung through a 2-2 pitch to become the Reds' 11th strikeout victim.

"Wink hit a couple balls hard and Suarez.  I think you have to give Peralta credit.  He pitched a really good game," Bell said.  "I'm happy with Castillo.  He's had two good starts."

Luis Castillo was living a nightmare.  While he was on a treadmill, racking up outs, he was gaining no ground.   Castillo gave up a hit, four walks and hit a batter in seven innings but a little bitty balk let him down.

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With one out in the second inning, Castillo issued a four-pitch pass to Jesus Aguilar.  Turning to make a token pick off throw to first base, Castillo realized Joey Votto wasn't on the bag and held it.  Balking Bob Davidson wasn't needed to make the call.  Tony Randazzo and each of his crew members could do it individually and in unison.

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"He was taking a big lead.  I thought he was going to run," Castillo said through interpreter Julio Morillo.  "I saw that and tried to pick him off at first.  It was my fault.  I lost the game in that inning."

One out later, Manny Pina singled up the middle and the Brewers were on the scoreboard.
"After that happened, I told myself to keep pitching.  Try to get hitters out and that's what I did," Castillo said.

Amir Garrett gave up a double to Lorenzo Cain but retired the next three batters, one on strikes.  Jared Hughes kept the Brewers from scoring in the ninth.

"We are all very confident," Winker said.  "We've just been on the wrong side of hard hit balls.  We've hit them hard but right at some guys.  It is just baseball.  You try to hit the ball as hard as you can, hoping some of them will fall.  They will start falling for us."

Alex Wilson relieved Peralta to start the ninth.  Tucker Barnhart walked to start the ninth, the Reds' third base runner.  Michael Lorenzen was the pinch runner.  Jesse Winker struck out looking.  Votto popped to Travis Shaw at third base.  Matt Kemp took the count full before grounding a single through the shortstop hole, sending Lorenzen to third as the first base running to reach second and third base.  It was up to a battle between Suarez and Wilson, who did not make the Cleveland Indians roster this spring and signed by Milwaukee on March 24.  Suarez forced Kemp at second on the lone ground out of the game.

"Kemp had a good at bat.  He kept the game alive," Bell said.  "The results aren't there right now but guys continue to compete.  We remain confident that it is going to turn around."

"We've had 11 at bats. We have some 500 more to go.  I'm sure we'll drop in some hits," Kemp said.  "For sure we're going to score runs.  We'll get some things going.  With the offense and hitters that we have we're capable of doing it.  We've got to relax, have fun and keep doing what we've been doing."

The Reds were shutout at Great American Ball Park for the second time this season.  They were blanked just three times at home all of last year.  It was the 23rd 1-0 game in the history of the park which opened in 2003.

Orlando Arcia's First Hit Makes Jhoulys Chacin A Winner

Orlando Arcia was hitless in 16 at bats when he stepped in the batters box to face Michael Lorenzen with two outs and runners on second and third in a 1-1 game .

Arcia got his first hit of the season with a fly ball home run just out of leaping distance of  Reds' right fielder Yasiel Puig.  Suddenly,  Arcia had his first hit of the year and three RBI to boot in the Milwaukee Brewers' 4-3 win over the Reds.

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"He'll perform," Brewers' manager Craig Counsell predicted before the game.  "It has just been four games.  We all want to get our first one out of the way."

Michael Lorenzen was ready to pitch to Arcia, with first base open and the pitcher Jhoulys Chacin on deck.  All he needed was one out.

"We had Michael ready," David Bell said.  They had Ryan Braun and Eric Thames on the bench.  We had to go after Arcia there."

Lorenzen had to make a pitch in that situation and get Zach Duke out of the inning.

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"It was a terrible pitch," Lorenzen said.  "It was a cutter that was supposed to be away to make him chase.  I didn't execute it.  He's a guy who swings a ton.  I needed to make him get himself out.  There was a base open, I didn't have to throw him a strike.  We scored two runs after that.  I only had to get one guy.  If I do my job we win tonight.  That is on me."

Until Arcia hit the first home run of the series between these to slugging teams, Anthony DeSclafani and Jhoulys Chacin were engaged in a pitching duel.  A healthy DeSclafani gave up one run on three hits and three walks in five innings.   Chacin pitched a third of an inning more, allowing two runs, also on three hits and three walks.

DeSclafani got to pitch in April for the first time in three years.  He started the last three seasons on the injured list (disabled list).

"I was definitely satisfied," said DeSclafani who struck out eight by mixing in the curve ball that he worked on this spring.  "It is something that's a big change of speed for me.  I feel like I could have pitched a lot more.  I go until the ball is taken from me.  I'm glad I got to take the ball the first week of the season instead of waiting two to three months."

The Brewers scored first in the third inning.  Lorenzo Cain walked and stole second base.  Travis Shaw walked before Jesus Aguilar sing;e to score Cain.

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Chacin retired the first 10 Reds' batters in order.  Joey Votto walked.  Puig singled up the middle and Votto advanced to third.  Eugenio Suarez drilled a hot smash past Shaw at third for a run scoring double.

Arcia's home run off Lorenzen put the Brewers in control.

The Reds got closer against Chacin in the sixth.  Votto walked again.  Puig singled again.  Suarez walked to load the bases.  Scott Schebler hit a slow roller to Aguilar at first, who only had one play.  He tapped first base as Votto scored.

Suarez homered in the eighth inning against Junior Guerra to make it 4-3.

Josh Hader walked Jose Iglesias to start the ninth but Tucker Barnhart struck out swinging after two failed bunt attempts.  Jose Peraza struck out.  Kyle Farmer the last player on the bench pinch hit for Robert Stephenson.  Farmer popped foul to the shortstop to give the Brewers its fifth win in six games.  The Reds lost for the third straight game.

"You can't say enough about our pitching," Bell said.  "It was just one pitch off Michael aside from that our pitching's been really good.  Anthony looked really good, just like he did in spring training.  We're happy to have him.  We are confident in our guys.  It is going to happen."

Brewers Late Rally Downs Reds

Tanner Roark's first start for the Red was a rocky one.  Roark walked the first batter he faced, Lorenzo Cain on four pitches.  It was an inning, he'd like to forget against the Milwaukee Brewers.

He struck out the red hot Christian Yelich, who has homered in each of the Brewers first four games.  Ryan Braun followed with a double.  Travis Shaw walked to load the bases.  Jesus Aguilar singled to score two runs.  Mike Moustakas doubled in a run and the Brewers jumped to a 3-0 lead.  David Bell ordered Orlando Arcia walked to face Brewers' starting pitcher Zach Davies, who popped out to Joey Votto at first.

Tanner got better and matched Davies over the next three plus innings but the Brewers scored a run late to win 4-3.

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"I just trusted my stuff.  Starting pitchers, it's their job to stay out there as long as they can," Roark said.  "There are going to be innings like that, you can't just throw in the towell, you've got to keep pitching."

The Reds stayed in the game because Roark didn't throw in the towel.

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"After an inning like that, what a great job to keep competing," Bell said.  "He did that to give us a shot to win.  Our bullpen came in and really gave us a chance to win.  Overall, it started out a little tough and then our pitching gave us a chance to win.   We lost the game tonight but the guys battled."

The Reds had three singles and Scott Schebler worked Davies for two walks through four scoreless innings, giving 14 consecutive scoreless innings since Thursday.

The Reds loaded the bases in the first on walks to Schebler and Yasiel Puig.  Eugenio Suarez singled sharply a step in front of  Yelich in right.  Schebler had to stop at third.  Davies struck out Matt Kemp and Jose Peraza to get out of the threat.   The Reds had two on with no outs in the third, a walk to Schebler and single by Votto.  Puig hit into a double play and Saurez popped up to stifle the opportunity.

Amir Garrett replaced Roark who kept the Reds in the game into the fifth inning.  Garrett struck out Shaw and Moustakas.  Then added a scoreless sixth as the Reds got back in the game.

Derek Dietrich was hit by a pitch to open the fifth.  He went to third on a ground ball to first by Schebler.  Votto walked.  Puig's first hit as a Red was a two-run double.

The Reds used four outfielders when Yasmani Grandal was up with the bases empty.  Grandal hit a liner past Votto but the shift prevented the ball from going into the corner for extra bases.   Grandal hit a gounder just inside the first base bag off Garrett in the sixth.  Arcia hit into a double play.  Garrett struck out Cain to complete his outing.

"You want to get outs with it but it is also about limiting the extra base," Bell said. "It is the guys who have the larger fly ball rates.  You can't use it against any guy, who has a larger fly ball rate, it is the guy who is pulling the ball.  With Grandal we didn't have anybody on the left side of the infield.  He rarely hits ground balls to the left side of the infield."

The Reds drew even in the bottom of the sixth.

Peraza and Barnhart singled off Alex Claudio to start the inning.  Pinch hitter Kyle Farmer hit into a force play, a ground ball to third.  Moustakas dropped the ball trying to make the relay.  Barnhart was ruled out with Peraza moving to third.  Dietrich hit a one hopper to Aguilar at first, who went for the inning ending double play but didn't get it as Peraza scored the tying run.

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Zach Duke and David Hernandez turned the tie game over to Raisel Iglesias, who retired the first two Brewers' batters in the ninth.  Yelich was 0-for-4 but doubled to left center.  Ryan Braun gave the Brewers the lead with a double down the left field line.

"We know how important Raisel is to our team," Bell said.  "We want him pitching in that situation.  We will continue to do that.  He went up against a really good hitter and then another one."

Milwaukee brought in Josh Hader.  Curt Casali, the Reds' last man off the bench, pinch hit to open the bottom of the ninth.  Casali doubled down the third base line.  Michael Lorenzen ran for Casali, the second time in three games, Lorenzen has been used to pinch run.  Schebler swung through three pitches.  Votto flied out deep to left, leaving the game in Puig's hands.  Puig fouled out to Grandal.