Site last updated: Monday, May 4, 2026

Log In

Reset Password
MENU
Butler County's great daily newspaper

Reds, cooler heads prevail

Pirates fall, 4-1, less than a day after brawl

CINCINNATI — Clint Hurdle and David Bell had little interaction while exchanging lineup cards one day after their teams fought on the field. Luis Castillo made sure there wouldn’t be much to talk about in the game that followed.

Castillo pitched into the eighth inning Wednesday, leading Cincinnati to a 4-1 victory over Pittsburgh. Both teams were on good behavior while their front offices wrapped up trades as the deadline approached.

“He was the right guy to have out there,” Bell said. “He was able to keep it quiet. It was really good timing to have that kind of a game.”

Most of the action was away from the field.

Both teams are awaiting word from Major League Baseball about punishment from their brawl during the ninth inning of Pittsburgh’s 11-4 win on Tuesday night. Bell, now-traded Yasiel Puig and two other Reds were ejected, along with four Pirates.

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.

Both teams hoped to avoid a second-day repeat.

“I think it’s squashed,” said Reds reliever Amir Garrett, who charged the Pirates dugout to spark the brawl and was ejected. “There’s no hard feelings.”

The NL Central rivals aren’t 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, 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 and trailed seven teams for the last NL wild card. The Reds also dealt starter Tanner Roark to Oakland on Wednesday for an outfield prospect and sent Scooter Gennett to the Giants for a player to be named.

The Pirates have gone 3-16 since the All-Star break.

The Pirates 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. Raisel Iglesias retired the side in the ninth for his 20th save in 23 chances.

More in Professional

Subscribe to our Daily Newsletter

* indicates required
TODAY'S PHOTOS