Luis Castillo strong again as Reds beat Braves 4-1

CINCINNATI (AP) — Luis Castillo pitched seven scoreless innings and Jesse Winker homered before departing with a hip injury, leading the Cincinnati Reds to a 4-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Saturday.

Castillo (3-10) permitted six hits, struck out six and walked two while improving to 2-2 with a 1.71 ERA in five June starts. The right-hander posted a 7.22 ERA through his first 11 starts of the year.

“His stuff was electric,” Reds manager David Bell said, “but so was his attack.”

Winker was 0 for 7 in the series before connecting for his 18th homer in the first. He grounded out to end the fifth and then left the game.

He was diagnosed with a right hip contusion and replaced by Shogo Akiyama.

“My hip was tightening up a little bit,” Winker said. “I am fine. I’d like to see how it feels tomorrow before I say I can play.”

Winker might have aggravated his hip making a diving attempt for Ronald Acuña Jr.'s double in the third.

Nick Castellanos extended his home hitting streak to 18 games with an RBI double in the third. Joey Votto added an RBI single, and Tyler Stephenson went deep in the eighth.

Atlanta right-hander Ian Anderson (5-4) allowed five hits, struck out nine and walked one in six innings. Anderson pitched six scoreless innings against the Reds in last year’s NL Wild Card series.

“He did a good job, it’s a tough offense to navigate,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “He pitched well enough to win.”

The Reds’ defense helped Castillo when Jonathan India threw out Guillermo Heredia trying to score from first on William Contreras’ double to end the sixth.

Stephenson homered off Edgar Santana. It was his third career pinch-hit homer.

Amir Garrett got three outs for his fifth save.

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source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Luis-Castillo-strong-again-as-Reds-beat-Braves-4-1-16276754.php