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Luis Castillo came into today’s game with a 6.07 ERA, 4.66 FIP, 3.73 xFIP, and 4.06 SIERA in six starts. Regardless which stat you prefer, it’s clear that Castillo hadn’t quite lived up to expectations thus far this year.
On paper, this felt like a great matchup to get Castillo back on track, given the struggles of the Cleveland offense. Coming into today’s game, Cleveland ranked 26th of the 30 teams with a 86 wRC+. Additionally, they had been no hit twice already this season, by Carlos Rodón in April and by Wade Miley in yesterday’s game.
Today did not go much better for Castillo, as he labored through four tough innings. While much of the run scoring could be blamed primarily on the Reds’ defense, Castillo allowed a lot of batted balls, striking out just two batters. This continues a trend of declining strikeout rate for Castillo this season.
The Reds will go into tomorrow’s game needing a win to take the Ohio Cup for the first time since 2014.
Offense
The Reds’ first hit came as a two out single by Tyler Naquin in the second inning. Tyler Stephenson followed with an opposite field single, making it first and second. The Reds were unable to score though, stranding the pair.
Nick Senzel reached base on a one out single in the third inning. Jesse Winker followed by ripping a double to right, making it second and third. After Nick Castellanos worked a walk to load the bases, Mike Moustakas drove in the first Reds run of the game on a sacrifice fly to center field.
Kyle Farmer hit a two out single in the fourth but was left stranded after Cleveland shortstop Andrés Giménez made a fantastic diving play to rob Jonathan India of a hit. India’s line drive had an 88% hit probability.
The Reds didn’t get another baserunner until Farmer drew a one out walk in the seventh. They couldn’t make anything out of it, stranding Farmer. Notably, Senzel struck out looking to end the inning on a pitch that looked to be low and outside, and would have been ball four (shown as pitch #6 below).
Winker drew a leadoff walk in the eighth inning. Shogo Akiyama, who had replaced Castellanos defensively, then grounded into a fielder’s choice. Alex Blandino, who had also came into the game as a defensive replacement, then singled off of former college teammate Cal Quantrill to move Akiyama to third. Eugenio Suárez then grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Naquin led off the ninth inning with a 10-pitch at bat that ended in a 106.8 mph home run to center field. This cut the Reds’ deficit to 9-2 and gave them their first run since the third inning. This was the Reds’ first home run since last Sunday against the Cubs.
Pitching
Luis Castillo once again ran into a bit of trouble in the first inning. He allowed a one-out walk, and two batters later, allowed an RBI double to give Cleveland their first hit and first run of the series. First inning struggles are nothing new for Castillo, as he came into the game with a 16.50 ERA in the first inning this season. However, Castillo was able to limit the damage to just the single run.
Castillo ran into more trouble in the second inning. He walked the first batter, then Naquin dropped a routine fly ball to left, making it first and second. A sacrifice bunt by the light hitting Austin Hedges moved up the runners, making it second and third with one out. Giménez then hit another routine fly to Naquin, which was fielded cleanly but allowed the runner on third to tag and score. Castillo then got his first strikeout of the game, a called strike three on César Hernández, to end the inning.
The third inning was Castillo’s first clean inning, retiring the side in order while striking out one.
Castillo allowed three consecutive one out singles in the fourth, bringing in another run. Cleveland then loaded the bases as Farmer dropped the ball on a force out attempt at second base. Hernández then hit a bases-clearing triple down the right field line, making it 6-1. Castillo then retired the next two batters to end the inning.
Castillo ended up pitching just four innings, allowing six runs (four earned) on five hits, with two walks and two strikeouts. He recorded just three whiffs on 46 swings (7%), a concerning number that was nowhere near what we have come to expect from Castillo.
Cionel Pérez came in to pitch the fifth inning in his first appearance since being recalled from Louisville. After retiring the first two batters, Pérez issued a four-pitch walk and then allowed a deep single to right field. Pérez recovered, getting a groundout to end the inning without allowing a run.
Ryan Hendrix came in to pitch the sixth. He allowed a leadoff bunt single, the first hit Hendrix had allowed in his six appearances this season. After recording a fielder’s choice out, Hendrix walked a batter to make it first and second. José Ramírez then hit a two run double to make it a 8-1 game. After recording the second out, Hendrix allowed another single, scoring another run and prompting a pitching change.
Sal Romano came in to finish out the sixth inning. He allowed a single to the first batter he faced, and then retired the second on a deep fly to right field to end the inning. Romano remained in the game for the seventh, retiring the side in order. He struck out two batters.
Carson Fulmer came in to pitch the eighth. After striking out the first batter, he allowed a single to Ramírez. He then walked the next batter before getting a strikeout and groundout to end the inning.
Stats
Hardest-Hit Balls
- Tyler Naquin: 106.8 mph | Home run in 9th inning
- Jonathan India: 102.2 mph | Lineout in 4th inning
- Nick Senzel: 101.4 mph | Single in 3rd inning
Unluckiest Out of the Day
- Jonathan India: .880 xBA | Lineout in 4th inning
Highest Velocities By Pitcher
- Luis Castillo: 98.0 mph
- Cionel Pérez: 96.2 mph
- Ryan Hendrix: 97.8 mph
- Sal Romano: 92.4 mph
- Carson Fulmer: 94.2 mph
Highest Pitch Spins
- Carson Fulmer: 2733 rpm | Curveball
Most Pitch Movement
- Cionel Pérez: 53 inches vertical movement | Slider
- Sal Romano: 21 inches vertical movement | Sinker
Team Expected Batting Averages (xBA)
- Cincinnati: .335 xBA
- Cleveland: .299 xBA
What’s Next?
The Reds conclude the Ohio Cup series in Cleveland with an afternoon game at Progressive Field. First pitch is at 1:10 p.m. EST as Tyler Mahle faces off against rookie Sam Hentges.
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