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.