Castillo, Reds outlast Cubs in rainy Cincinnati

[May 17, 2019]    Cincinnati ace Luis Castillo worked 5 1/3 innings to notch his team-leading fifth win in the Reds' 4-2 victory over the visiting Chicago Cubs on Thursday, in a game that was interrupted by a rain delay of nearly two hours.

Reds starting pitcher Luis Castillo (58) throws against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

Castillo (5-1) won his fifth straight decision, allowed just two hits -- both in the first inning -- fanned six and recorded one out in the sixth before departing after the lengthy delay.

Raisel Iglesias struck out two in a perfect ninth inning for his ninth save, as the Reds won two of three in the series.

Eugenio Suarez had two hits and two RBIs, Nick Senzel and Joey Votto each had a pair of hits, and Jose Peraza homered for the Reds, who won for the fifth time in their last seven games.

Cubs starter Jose Quintana (4-3) was tagged with the loss after allowing three Cincinnati runs in the fifth.

Javier Baez had two hits, and Willson Contreras drove in both runs with a double for Chicago, which has lost two straight after winning its previous eight series.

In a matchup featuring pitchers leading their respective clubs in wins, the Cubs touched up Castillo in the top of the first inning.

Kris Bryant worked a one-out walk -- stretching his streak to 25 straight games reaching base -- and Baez moved his hitting streak to 14 consecutive games by lining a double over third base.

Contreras hit a slow chopper toward third base that struck the bag on the fourth bounce and bounded into left field for a double and a 2-0 Cubs lead.

Cincinnati broke through with a three-spot in the fifth, beginning with a solo homer by Peraza, his third, a couple of rows into the right field seats.

Castillo and Votto singled, with Castillo eventually scoring on the second of consecutive wild pitches by Quintana. Suarez's RBI single gave the Reds a 3-2 lead.

Castillo cruised through the top of the frames, mowing down 14 straight starting with the final out of the first inning and ending with Kyle Schwarber's lineout to open the sixth.

The rain strengthened after Schwarber's at-bat, the tarp was pulled out, and the clubs sat through a 111-minute rain delay.

The bullpens took over after the delay, and the Reds scored a run against reliever Tyler Chatwood on Suarez's second RBI single in the seventh.

Cincinnati's bullpen tossed 3 2/3 innings and gave up just two singles.

--Field Level Media

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