The Reds jumped all over Taijuan Walker and the Diamondbacks right away. Billy Hamilton lead off the game by drawing a very impressive walk. Cozart tripled, and then Votto homered, and it was quickly 3-0.
That would be more than enough on this night for Luis Castillo. He dominated the Diamondbacks, and held them scoreless for 6.2 innings on his way to his first big league win. Every one of the Reds infielders went out of their way to let Castillo know that his effort tonight was appreciated when Bryan Price took him out of the game.
Scooter Gennett and Tucker Barnhart would also homer for the Reds later in the game. Wandy Peralta and Ariel Herandez shut the door in relief, and helped secure a 7-0 win for the Reds.
| Final | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Reds (38-49) | 7 | 7 | 1 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks (53-35) | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| W: Castillo (1-1) L: Walker (6-4) | |||
| FanGraphs Win Probability | Box Score | Game Thread | |||
Biggest Play of the Game
According to Fangraphs WPA statistic (winning percentage added), the most important play of the game was Zack Cozart’s RBI triple with 0 outs in the 1st inning, giving the Reds a 1-0 lead. That play increased the Reds chances of winning by 11.4% (from 55.7% to 67.1%).
Player of the Game
Positives
Luis Castillo was absolutely nasty: 6.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K. His fastball was still topping 99 MPH well over 100 pitches into his start. Through 4 starts, Castillo now has a 3.13 ERA, and 11.74 K/9.
Joey Votto hit his NL best 26th home run of the season tonight. Votto is now on pace for 48 bombs this season.
Scooter Gennett hit his 15th home run of the season. That is a new career high for Scooter. What an incredible pickup for the Reds. Pretty amazing the Brewers are cruising in first place and they literally just gave up this guy.
Billy Hamilton had a big night. He reached base four times (2 walks!), and stole three bases. Hamilton now has a .382 OBP over his last 14 games, and his OBP for the year has finally climbed over .300.
Tucker Barnhart hit a home runs (his 2nd of the year) and a double. Barnhart is now hitting .277/.338/.408 on the year.
Tucker Barnhart is now hitting .277/.338/.408
League average catcher: .245/.313/.405— ɴɪᴄᴋ ᴋɪʀʙy (@Nicholaspkirby) July 9, 2017
Wandy Peralta retired all four batters he faced, including two strikeouts. Peralta hasn’t allowed a run over his last seven appearances (8.2 IP).
Negatives
Absolutely nothing to see here tonight.
Not so random thoughts…….
–Big game for the Reds tomorrow. If they are able to win, they would go into the break 3-0-1 in their final four series before the all-star break.
–John Kerkoff had a good observation, and asked me on Twitter tonight does Votto lead off innings an abnormal amount? I decided to do a quick comparison. Entering tonight, Votto had lead off an inning 67 times this season. Paul Goldschmidt has only lead of an inning 47 times.
–The FS1 annoucers were…..well……interesting. The color guy said something about how giving #4 to Gennett was disrespectful to Phillips, and that doesn’t happen often. Um, ok. The color guy did redeem himself later by advocating for a robot strike zone.
Here is a list of some notable Reds who had someone else wear their number the year after they left Cincinnati. pic.twitter.com/VYsd5bAmSJ
— ɴɪᴄᴋ ᴋɪʀʙy (@Nicholaspkirby) June 3, 2017
Up Next:
Reds at Diamondbacks
Sunday, 4:10 PM
TV: FOX Sports Ohio
Homer Bailey (12.66 ERA) vs Patrick Corbin (4.81 ERA)
All statistics are used courtesy of Fangraphs, ESPN Stats & Info, and Baseball-Reference.
Tonight was a thing of beauty!
Luis Castillo is our future ace!!!!
Great job Luis Castillo!! Today was the introduction to the DR Express. Castillo, Peralta and Hernandez all 97-100 MPH.
Castillo was really, really nasty this morning (I’m currently in UTC+3). If Stephens and Romano can continue performing likewise, plus Bailey back in good shape, I don’t see much room for all other guys in the pipeline (Reed, Stephenson, Garrett, Davies, Mahle) and that’s even excluding the DL (Disco and Finnegan) and the current holders (Feldman and Adleman). I hope GM will strike some good deals, Go Reds!
The Cubs would seem like a good trading partner. As you point out, the Reds’ system appears to be loaded with promising young pitchers while being a bit light on position players. The Cubs’ current situation is the reverse. Three names that come to mind are Kyle Schwarber, Eloy Jimenez, and Victor Caratini. Schwarber is a mediocre corner outfielder who has stated several times that he wants to catch. That’s not likely to happen with the Cubs. Jimenez, the Cubs’ top-rated prospect, is only 20, is already doing well in High-A. Tremendous power and improving plate discipline. Caratini, a switch-hitting catcher could be a platoon partner with Barnhart (who doesn’t hit LHPs).
One more comment. I don’t get the fascination with Winker. An average corner outfielder with plate discipline but limited power and speed. What am I missing?
The Reds don’t want to face Iglesias 18 times per year forever and the Cubs don’t want to face Schwarber. Won’t happen
If Schwarber was any kind of a catcher he wouldn’t be playing a terrible LF for the Cubs.
Castillo is just a bad dude.Velocity plays anywhere but his other pitches could make him something special.The difference in speed will drive hitters crazy.Great job against a good team in their park.Can anybody say Mario Soto?
Well said. he has an “air” about him when on the mound. Confident in his stuff.
When he was in the Marlin’s system, Castillo was coached to use the curve as a second pitch. When the Reds acquired him, they immediately ditched the curve in favor of a slider and then completed his portfolio with a (sorta) circle-change. And then, Presto! You have a complete pitcher.
That change, in conjunction with his heater, is just plain nasty. You saw some major league hitters take what were essentially wiffle ball swings at that change. I’m also impressed with his mental makeup. The pressure of the show has honed in his focus (as opposed to, say, Reed). As long as that kid keeps throwing strikes, he’s golden.
Was excited to see Castillo again and certainly not disappointed. Got a lot of ks on sliders down and away to righties, which they will learn to lay off of. Adjustments as usual. But his easy motion to the plate and generating that kind of velocity is special. Once he can consistently throw his change and slider for strikes will keep his pitch count down and really go deep into games. Impressive.
He was certainly impressive. The slider may be a tad better than scouts say, but they still don’t like it yet. Eric Longenhagen of Fangraphs said in a chat last week that he saw a two-pitch guy who may end up as a reliever. I don’t think that’s the case, but most scouts I read think the slider has a long way to go.
Castillo only threw 13 last night and only six for strikes. He got one swing and miss. So far on the year, he’s gotten only five Ks on sliders, but he doesn’t throw it that much so that’s not bad. If the pitch becomes averagish (maybe it’s close now), he will dominate.
Oh….Fangraphs. Well, there you go. Castillo will be reliever.
One Negative I can think of Jesse winker did not play managers decision. Now two games up and 1 AB. What a Rebuild and sorting!
If you take away the 13/14 loss skid they had in June, this is a ballclub that is 37-33 on the year, if my math serves me right. While I know it is frivolous to operate in what-ifs, it definitely lends to hope that this is a ball club teetering on the edge of a bright and shining future. Castillo just looked so effortless all night, I really think he will be a solid 1/2 pitcher.
Fluid as the pitching staff has been for the last couple of years, this means nothing of course. But I think this is a pretty good group to build around next year (injuries and trades excluded). Pen: Iggy, Lorenzen, Storen, Peralta, Cingrani, Finnegan, Stephenson. Starters: Homer, Castillo, Feldman, Disco, Garrett/Reed. Plenty of guys in the pen that can pitch multiple innings when needed, or spot start when someone goes down. Just don’t think Finnegan can hold up as a starter; maybe Lorenzen can. Plenty of guys behind this group if failure/injury occur.
I agree we have a good group that could do a little bit of damage. I don’t see Storen back and I wouldn’t be surprised to see teams coming after Cingrani before the deadline. If history is a sign, I won’t be surprised either to see Finnegan in the pen as you wrote. (Iglesias and Lorenzon moved after multiple injuries). Don’t forget bullpen options for next year Hernandez, Herget and Weiss. I’m sure I’m not alone on thinking Romano Could lock down a rotation spot this year. I’m betting on Stephenson before Reed.
I agree. Stephenson has been throwing very well lately in AAA. I’d like to see him get a shot and actually do something with it this time around.
The AC at Chase Field must be working. It’s 115 degrees outside and Catillo is wearing sleeves!
I heard the PA announcer at the start of the game say it was 82 inside the ballpark. That might feel cool coming from 100+ outside.
Pirates put up a TD/FG for 10 in the 1st inning @ Wrigley….lol. I can’t believe Joe Maddon left in Lester for all 10? Thats wrong?
Lester,Arrieta and Lackey are on the downside in age and stuff although Arrieta still kicks our backside just because he can.Cubs will just buy but some more starters as they did with Lackey and Lester so they will be around for a long time.
Arrieta is not done, but he peaked in 2015; he will still pitch good games, just not as frequently as he did two years ago, when we was the premier right hander in the NL. Lackey and Lester are older pitchers, and it looks like they are really falling off the table. That was the risk that Theo Epstein took when signing them. It led to a World Series win, but now they are a little stuck. They need to….get this…..rebuild their starting pitching staff. Epstein has the deep pockets to go out and sign some Free Agents this winter, but it will be interesting in how they handle this situation.
Even the “genius” of Joe Maddon cannot restore the ability of old pitchers.
Very glad you took the time to correct the record regarding Phillips number being worn. Ignorant comments like the commentators (Preston Wilson) on FS1 made need to be corrected.
I wouldn’t trade two starters and a closer for prospects unless they were named Babe Ruth and Sandy Koufax with perhaps Curt Flood thrown in as a filler.