Kyle Farmer and Luis Castillo Clutch In Reds Win Maybe Castillo's Last As A Red

Kyle Farmer and Luis Castillo came up big in the Reds' 5-3 win over the Miami Marlins.

Castillo faced his former team, sporting a 4-0 record against them.  

The Reds faced left handed pitcher Braxton Garrett, who was the seventh player chosen in the 2016 draft with Miami's first pick.  

Jonathan India wasted no time lining a single to right center.  Brandon Drury walked.  With Tommy Pham at bat, India was caught stealing third by catcher Nick Fortes.  Tommy Pham got credit for an infield hit when third baseman, Luke Williams couldn't short hop his ground ball.  Garrett was able to catch Joey Votto looking at strike three butFarmer came up with a huge two-out hit.  Farmer has made a habit out of driving in runs with two outs.  He doubled down the left field line to drive in his 48th and 49th runs.  Farmer is hitting .425 with two outs and runners in scoring position. 

"Whenever you can get an early lead for any pitcher it allows them to relax and make pitches," Farmer said.  "I just think it is the baseball God's on my side. Maybe I focus in a little more, I'm not sure. I'm thankful guys in a of me are getting on base and I'm able to drive them in especially with two outs.  That's kinda big."

The Reds weren't finished.

Red hot Donovan Solano doubled to score Farmer.  Matt Reynolds singled up the middle to give the Reds a 4-0 lead.

"The first inning was huge, Bell said.  "The big hit by Farm early.  It was a good night by Matt and Donovan."

Fortes got to Castillo with his fourth home run.

The Reds got the run back on a two-out single by Matt Reynolds to score Pham in the third inning.

JJ Bleday reached Castillo for his first Major League home run into the Marlin's bullpen.

The score held through the sixth.  

Castillo tempted fate by walking Lewin Diaz to open the seventh.  Willians Austudillo singled.  Jesus Sanchez hit a double past Votto at first to bring the Marlins within two runs with the tying runs in scoring postion with no out.

Castillo struck out Fortes and Williams.  Wendle brought his .294 average to the plate and battled Castillo until the Reds' as fanned him on a 2-2 pitch to end the threat.

"It was vintage Luis Castillo," Bell said.  "When he gets into trouble late in the game, he's been able to stay with it finish and get the job done."

Huascar Brozoban relieved Garrett and held the Reds after a leadoff double by Solano in the sixth.  He struck out five in two scoreless innings.

Alexis Diaz took over for Castillo in the eighth.

Castillo finished with his fifth straight quality start and fourth straight of seven innings.  He allowed three runs on six hits and a walk with eight strikeouts.  Two solos home runs by the Marlins kept the visitors in the game.

"Every thing turned out as well as it could have," Castillo said. "That last inning was marvelous, two runners on and I was able to punch out the last three.

Hunter Strickland gave up a leadoff single to Diaz but got a game ending double play to earn his sixth save.

Castillo, who might be pitching his last game in a Reds uniform, was actually with the Marlins twice.  Castillo traveled plenty as a sparkling young pitching prospent.

He was signed by the San Francisco Giants.  The Giants traded him to the Marlins. The Marlins traded him to the San Diego Padres on July 29, 2016 and three days later traded back to the Marlins.  The Marlins wanted Dan Straily from the Reds and packaged Castillo with two players who are long gone in January 2017.  The Reds brought him to the big leagues later that year and he's been with them since.

Castillo, who won't turn 30 until December 12, is coveted by teams still in a pennant race.  He is not eligible for free agency until 2024, giving buyers an extra year of control.

"Really it is up to the people upstairs what happens.  It doesn't change any thing for me going out to the mound," Castillo said. "I don't know what is going to happen next but every one in the dugout was hugging me and telling me good job.  I have been here five years and I've been able to create a family with everyone in there and with you guys as well but I have been traded four times.  It is part of the business of the game."

"They (Reds) are the team  gave me the opportunity to pitch in the big leagues.  I ould like to be in the Reds uniform the rest of my life but baseball is a business."

Bell, who has grown up in and around Major League baseball with his grandfather, father and brother all playing for the Reds, knows what is coming and knows he can't get to emotional about it but still values the relationships formed by the game.

"It's been an absolute pleasure to be around Luis.  He is a Cincinnati Red," Bell said.  "That's how I see it.  It h beeyen a great experience.  I absolutely love him and so does every one else in the clubhouse.  I look forward to continue our relationship."

"We care about each other but we know its a business and no matter what none of us will stay together forever."