Bryan Reynolds and Starling Marte had key blasts in the Pittsburgh Pirates four-run eighth inning.
The rookie Reynolds broke a tie with the Reds with a two-run triple off David Hernanadez. Starling Marte followed immediately with his sixth home run to cement the Pirates 8-5 win in the first game of a day night double header.
It was the ninth time that the Reds lost with a chance to get within three games of the .500 mark and the sixth straight loss to the Pirates since defeating the visitors 5-3 on Opening Day.
Hernandez has delivered the Reds safely from jams multiple times this season already. Today a combination of breaks, mixed with a bad pitch caused the game to get away.
"There were a couple plays there were a few tough breaks," Hernandez said. "The ball in center, you give him to the end of the season and he makes that play easily. That would have been two out nobody one. I thought I had Reynolds struck out. I didn't get the call. I didn't think he swung but I thought I caught the bottom of the zone. I haven't looked at it again but it looked good to me. You still have to make pitches after that. Marte was a flat slider middle away. If I throw him a good one down and away, it's not a home run."
Melky Cabrera was hit by a pitch by Castillo to start the fourth inning. The Pirates and Reds have a long history of hitting each other with pitches.
Cabrera was in pain and given a few minutes to collect himself. When he was ready he started his revenge tour by taking off for second as Castillo paid little attention to him. Castillo wheeled and turned to throw Cabrera out stealing but he had already leaned toward home and was called for a balk. Colin Moran singled Cabrera to third. Cabrera scored on a fly out to right. His slide upended Tucker Barnhart. The run broke the scoreless tie.
The Reds stormed back to take the lead against Nick Kingham. Jose Iglesias singled to open the inning. Barnhart struck out. Castillo bunted Iglesias to second base. Nick Senzel doubled to tie the score. Joey Votto doubled to put the Reds up by a run. Eugenio Suarez doubled off the top the inner fence four a third straight run scoring double.
The lead didn't last.
Cabrera and Moran singled off Castillo to open the inning. Elias Diaz appeared to ground into a double play but Votto dropped the relay as Cabrera scored. Kevin Newman hit a slow ground ball to Iglesias at short. Iglesias behind the back flip to get Diaz was late. Amir Garrett replaced Castillo. Pinch hitter Gregory Polanco singled to left to tie the game. Garrett struck out Adam Frazier and Reynolds.
"I had too many walks today. I threw too many pitches. I am going to keep working and keep getting better," Castillo said (Julio Murillo) "My job is to get ground balls. After that whatever happens, happens."
David Bell thought Castillo pitched well enough to win
"Luis was good today," Bell said. "There were a couple plays that could have been made. Our defense has been so good too. I felt like we were going to comeback."
Josh Bell's 17th home run put the Pirates ahead in the seventh. Cabrera singled to reach base in his third straight at bat. Garett struck out Moran. Matt Bowman entered to catch Diaz looking at a called strike three.
Franciso Liriano issued one-out walks to Jose Peraza and Senzel. Votto's second single of the game loaded the bases. Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle brought Kyle Crick in to face Suarez with one out and the bases loaded. Suarez tied the game with a fly to Reynolds at the left field wall. Josh VanMeter hit for Bowman. VanMeter flied out deep to right field.
David Hernandez, who saved the Reds' Opening Day triumph over the Pirate, had a troubling eighth. He got Kevin Newman to ground out but pinch hitter Cole Tucker doubled in front of Senzel's attempt to make a diving catch. Hernandez hit Frazier with a two-strike pitch to set the scene for Reynolds.
The Reds loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the eighth but Felipe Vazquez struck out Senzel swinging on a 3-2 pitch.
Vazquez allowed hits to Votto and Suarez but Kyle Farmer struck out. Curt Casaili hit a sacrifice fly and Yasiel Puig grounded out.
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