Castillo pitches seven strong innings, Reds defeat Pirates 4-1 for third straight series win

CINCINNATI (AP) — Clint Hurdle and David Bell had little interaction while exchanging lineup cards one day after their teams fought on the field, and the Pirates and Reds were on good behavior Wednesday during Cincinnati’s 4-1 victory over Pittsburgh behind a strong performance from Luis Castillo.

Bell and three Reds, including now-traded Yasiel Puig, were ejected for a ninth-inning brawl during the Pirates’ 11-4 win on Tuesday night. Four Pirates also were ejected. Major League Baseball was reviewing video of the fight Wednesday and was expected to hand down suspensions over the second fracas between the NL Central rivals this season.

Bell went after Hurdle during the fight and was restrained in a headlock by batting coach Rick Eckstein. Bell repeatedly cursed Hurdle as he left the field. A day later, the two managers didn’t say much while handing lineup cards to the umpires.

They’re not done with each other. They meet again at PNC Park on Aug. 23, and wrap up the season together with three games in Pittsburgh Sept. 27-29.

The series matched two teams that have faded from the NL Central race, but only one of them is already looking to next year.

Puig went to Cleveland as part of a three-team deal for pitcher Trevor Bauer even though Cincinnati had slid to 7½ games out. Puig can be a free agent at the end of the season, while Bauer is under contract control for another year. The Reds also dealt starter Tanner Roark to Oakland on Wednesday for an outfield prospect.

Tanner Roark was sitting in an Arby’s parking lot on his way to Atlanta when he found out he had been traded to Oakland.

“I wanted a Beef ‘n Cheddar.”#BornToBaseball | @Reds pic.twitter.com/ijawzDOuSI

— FOX Sports Ohio (@FOXSportsOH) July 31, 2019

The Pirates have gone 3-16 since the All-Star break, prompting them to deal starter Jordan Lyles to Milwaukee at the start of the series. They couldn’t muster much against Castillo (10-4), who recovered from his worst start of the season. The All-Star allowed a career-high six runs in a 12-2 loss to the Rockies on Friday.

Castillo gave up six hits and a run while pitching into the eighth inning on Wednesday. Raisel Iglesias retired the side in the ninth for his 20th save in 23 chances.

Jesse Winker and Eugenio Suarez homered off rookie Dario Agrazal (2-2), who lasted only 3 2/3 innings. Agrazal hit Tucker Barnhart on the foot with a breaking ball, and got Winker on the arm with a fastball, drawing boos from the crowd of 20,886. The umpires huddled after Winker was hit, but didn’t eject Agrazal.

And in da ? of an ?️, the @Reds have a lead! #BornToBaseball

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— FOX Sports Ohio (@FOXSportsOH) July 31, 2019

TRAINER’S ROOM

Pirates: Hurdle said none of his players was hurt in the brawl.

Reds: Reliever David Hernandez was activated off the injured list and took Puig’s roster spot. Hernandez had been sidelined by shoulder fatigue.

UP NEXT

Pirates: After a day off, Pittsburgh opens a six-game homestand against the Mets on Friday.

Reds: Anthony DeSclafani (6-5) opens a four-game series in Atlanta. Bauer is expected to join the Reds there, although he hasn’t yet been slotted into the rotation.