Luis Castillo was bitten by the home run ball as the Colorado Rockies powered to a 12-2 win in the first game of the weekend series.
Daniel Murphy hit a three-run home run in the first inning, his 11th and David Dahl's 14th home run in the fourth inning accounted for five runs. Murphy drove in six runs for the game when he added a bases clearing, bases loaded double in the ninth inning.
"I didn't have a quality outing," Castillo said. "Homers are part of the game. These things are going to happen. They came off the bench swinging. They are really good hitters. I don't want to change anything. Of course I want to stop it now (giving up runs) but most of my outings have been good."
Charlie Blackmon added an RBI double that preceded Dahl's home run with an RBI double.
German Marquez is no stranger to the home run ball. After Murphy staked him to a three-run lead, Jesse Winker doubled to open the Reds' half. Winker advanced to third on a balk by Marquez. He scored on a ground out by Joey Votto. Josh VanMeter belted his third home run leading off the second inning. It was the 22nd allowed by Marquez, who is second in the National League to Chris Archer's 24 allowed.
"VanMeter continues to have good at bats," Bell said. "He has a solid approach at the plate. It helps that he can play so many positions."
VanMeter had three hits and improved his average to .297.
Derek Dietrich struck out batting for Castillo, who gave up six runs in five innings. Castillo allowed just seven runs in seven starts in March and April. Blackmon and Dahl had two hits off Castillo. The Reds' ace was the victim of some infield hits among the eight he allowed, including Tony Wolters' slow roller to Suarez at third in the three-run fourth.
"Those things are going to happen. Castillo has been so good this year," David Bell said. "They were really aggressive. It seams that they wanted to get to his fastball. The two home runs were the difference in the game."
Blackmon robbed Winker of a home run in the sixth.
The Reds squandered a scoring chance in the seventh. Yasiel Puig led off with a double. He stopped at third on a sharp single by VanMeter but Marquez struck out Scooter Gennett. Jose Iglesias ground ball up the middle was turned into an inning ending double play.
Robert Stephenson turned in three scoreless innings.
"Robert saved our bullpen," Bell said. "It was important for him to pitch three innings at that point in the game. He was efficient."
The Rockies added six runs off Jared Hughes. Wolters, Yonder Alonso and Blackmon's third hit pushed the lead to five runs. Nolan Arenado walked. Murphy cleared them with a double into right field corner. Ryan McMahon piled on with an RBI single. Raimel Tapia joined the hit parade with a run scoring double.
In spite of the horrible inning, Hughes could have been the hero had he struck out Wolters for the last out and 11th strikeout of the game. Each fan gets a free pizza from LaRosa's Italian Restaurant when the Reds strike out 11 batters in a game. Alas, Wolters flied out to the warning track.
Tucker Barnhart returned from the injured list after his strained right oblique healed. He also threw out Garrett Hampson, who was trying to steal second.
"Tucker looked like he hasn't missed a beat," Bell said.
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