Reds Meaner Than a Junkyard Dog In Second Straight Win

 

 

 

It was a man's bite dog story on Bark in the Park night.  The Reds put together two straight wins for the first time this season which had officially gone to the dogs until they broke a 21-game stretch with just one win.

The Reds banged out 14 hits in a 10-5 payback against the Milwaukee Brewers. The first place Brewers beat 18-4 and 10-5 in back-to-back games in Wisconsin last week.  Three of the 14 hits cleared the fence.

Brandon Drury had the big blow with a three-run home run in the five-run fifth that put the Reds' ahead to stay.  Drury was signed half way through spring training.

"What a great swing," said David Bell who knew Drury through his late brother Mike, who was the player development director at Arizona. " That might have been a ball from that pitcher, up in the zone.  He continues to work so hard.  He's so driven to contribute to this team and make the most of this opportunity."

Luis Castillo made his first start of the season.  He lasted 4 2/3 innings, missing a chance to finish five when Kyle Farmer bobbled a ground ball by Willy Adames.  The flip to Matt Reynolds was too late to get Jace Pederson at second.  The initial call was out but it was overruled on replay.

"The first three innings were solid," Castillo said. "The fourth inning was a little trouble but we were able to get through it.  I'm feeling really healthy and I'm looking forward to more starts here. I get to be part of the team.  It felt great to be a part of it."

The Reds still haven't had a starting pitcher complete six innings.

"I would have liked to get through the fifth inning," sais Castillo. "That's always the manager's decision.  Being my first outing of the season it was good.  I will have more games to pitch deeper."

The National League Player of the Week, Rowdy Tellez doubled home two runs in the fourth as Castillo walked Kolten Wong and Christian Yellech.  Catcher Omar Narvarez hit his second home run of the season led off the fifth.

Castillo allowed three runs on three hits and three walks.  He struck out five.

Colin Moran homered in his third straight at bat, leading off the second inning against Brewers starter, Brandon Woodruff.

The Reds loaded the bases with two outs in the third inning on singles by Brandon Drury and Matt Reynolds and a walk to Tommy Pham.  Moran's bid for a home run in four straight at bats faded with a ground out to second base.

Cincinnati threatened again in the fifth.  Albert Almora Jr. opened with a double into the left field corner.  Reynolds walked.  TJ Friedl doubled to score Almora.  Reynolds fell around third when he got a late stop sign.  Drury made good on the threat with a three-run home run to dead center.  It was his team leading sixth of the season.  Pham's single ended the day for Woodruff. Pham stole second and advanced to third on a ground out.  He scored on a passed ball by Navarez.

The Brewers got two runs back off Luis Cessa, the winning pitcher, with three singles in the sixth.  Tyrone Taylor's two-out hit drove in the marker.  Alexis Diaz gave up a fourth hit in the inning to bring the Brewers to within a run.  Pham saved the lead with a running catch of Wong's line drive to deep left.

Almora, Reynolds and Pham singled to push the lead back to 7-5 in the sixth off Jandel Gustave.

Kyle Farmer was hitless in 34 at bats before belting a three-run home run in the eighth inning to break it wide open.  Farmer's first home run of the season, victimized left hander Hoby Milner.

"I've never done that before," Butch (Reds PR Rob Butcher) told me 0-for-34 the last time someone did that was 1950.  It's a cool stat to have and put in my back pocket."

One teammate was in the batting cage and rushed out to greet Farmer.

"The guys reaction meant a lot.   They knew that I was struggling.  They've seen me shower in my uniform a couple times. Guys knew.  I really appreciate the support from them."

Farmer also got help from Reds' current broadcaster Barry Larkin.

"I got a little piece of advice from someone today.  It really helped. I was trying to hit the ball to right field all night and luckily clipped one.  I was really glad it put us way up to be honest.  It was like 200 pounds off my back.  I gestured up to the broadcast booth to someone who really helped me out.  It was one of the great shortstops of all time," Farmer said.

Farmer is one of the most popular guys in the clubhouse.  His contributions include the intangible.

"We're seeing a lot of that," Bell said. "This has been a struggle and no one wants to go through it but it has brought us all together.  Everyone has gotten really close.  There are a lot of new faces.  We've been forced to stay together.  Farm has been a big part of that. Even when things aren't going well for him.  He finds a way to make it good for everyone around him."

Jeff Hoffman and Joel Kuhnel closed out the game with two scoreless innings.

"It was great to have a couple of wins in a ro," Bell said.  "The way it happened was beautiful.  Right from the beginning, Luis looked good.  It was nice to get three innings it was like his last start in spring training.  He got a little tired at the end but it was good to have hime."