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.

http://www.wiedemannbeer.com/

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.

ht[[s://amazon.com/

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."

http://donatelifeohio.org/

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."