CINCINNATI (AP) — Manager David Bell had an unfamiliar vantage point — a booth far away from the field — to watch his struggling Reds end their slump at long last.
Matt Kemp started Cincinnati’s spree of three consecutive homers, Luis Castillo dominated again, and the Reds snapped their eight-game losing streak Tuesday night, beating the Miami Marlins 14-0 shortly after their manager and an outfielder were suspended.
The Reds hit five homers in all as they won for the first time since opening day. Their 2-8 mark matches last season’s start.
“I kept telling people when we break out, it’s going to be a party, and it kind of turned into that today,” said Scott Schebler, who completed the three-homer barrage. “It was a lot of fun.”
The Reds were missing outfielder Yasiel Puig and Bell, suspended for their part in a fracas in Pittsburgh on Sunday. Puig decided to serve his two-game suspension rather than appeal. Bell got a one-game punishment, and bench coach Freddie Benavides took his place for the series opener.
Bell watched the game from the general manager’s booth — an unaccustomed place — as his fill-in ran the show.
“It was really weird,” Bell said. “It was better as the game went along.”
Benavides didn’t have any difficult decisions as the Reds emerged from a deep hitting slump. They batted .167 during the losing streak and were shut out four times. Cincinnati had scored a total of 21 runs in its first nine games.
“It was an easy game, there were not a whole lot of moves,” Benavides said. “It was a good game to manage today.”
Castillo (1-1) allowed only a pair of singles and a walk over seven innings and struck out eight. In three starts, the right-hander has given up only five hits and two runs in 19 2/3 innings.
“I’ve watched his games,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “He’s given good teams trouble. He has a really good changeup and his fastball is 96-98 mph. He’s got the weapons to make you uncomfortable.”
Jesse Winker hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning off Jose Urena (0-3), who has failed to build upon his solid finish last season. Urena won his last six decisions last season, a career high, but has given up 14 runs in only 13 2/3 innings this season.
The Reds put it away in the sixth inning by hitting three straight homers for the first time since 2012. Kemp hit a three-run shot off Wei-Yin Chen, and Eugenio Suarez and Schebler also connected as Cincinnati surged ahead 11-0. Kyle Farmer added a three-run homer in the seventh.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Reds: Right-hander Hunter Greene had Tommy John surgery. The Reds announced last week that Greene, the second overall pick in the 2017 June draft, had torn the ligament and would need surgery.
Joey Votto was hit in the ribs by a pitch from Chen in the sixth. He stayed in the game and ran the bases, and was replaced at first base the next inning. Benavides said Votto was fine.
Marlins: Catcher Jorge Alfaro got hit on the top of the head by Winker’s bat on his swing in the sixth inning. After a few moments to recover, Alfaro stayed in the game. He had a passed ball on the next pitch.
THREE STRAIGHT
The last time the Reds hit three consecutive homers was May 21, 2012, against Atlanta. Mike Leake, Zach Cozart and Drew Stubbs connected off Mike Minor in the fourth inning.
STREAK STOPPED
Marlins leadoff hitter Curtis Granderson walked twice and struck out twice. He had homered in each of his last four games at Great American Ball Park, the second-longest active streak at a ballpark behind Edwin Encarnacion’s five-game homer streak at Citizens Bank Park.
SOME PITCHING LINE
In two innings, Chen gave up 10 earned runs, seven hits and two walks. He also hit Votto with a pitch.
REMEMBERING MINOR LEAGUER
The Reds honored deceased minor leaguer Jairo Capellan pregame. He and two teammates on the Dominican Summer League Reds — Emilio Garcia and Raul Hernandez — were involved in a car crash last November. Garcia, Hernandez and David Capellan — the player’s father — threw ceremonial pitches pregame.
UP NEXT
Marlins: Trevor Richards (0-1) threw seven innings in his only appearance against the Reds, allowing only three hits and fanning nine during a 6-0 victory last Sept. 23.
Reds: Tyler Mahle (0-0) threw six scoreless innings, allowing five hits, in a 2-0 loss in Pittsburgh on Thursday.