CINCINNATI – With two bats for the Reds in Game 2 of a double seven-pointer against the Cardinals on Wednesday, Nick Castellanos already had two homers and six RBIs. But it was the success of the great slam of Castellanos that provoked the dispute over the excavation of Sant Lluís.
Facing JA Happ for the second time at the end of the second inning, Castellanos crushed a 1-2 throw to the left field seats for a grand slam and a 6-1 lead. Returning to the shelter, Cardinals manager Mike Shildt appeared to ask the referees to check on Castellanos’ bat, which had been given to a child sitting in the shelter at home.
The four referees met and then approached the Reds shelter to argue with Castellanos and manager David Bell and ask for the bat to be inspected, because Shildt thought it was broken or torn. The bat, which was recovered, was seen and returned to Castellanos before being returned to the young fan.
Shildt requested a video review of the local swing. It was determined that nothing in the bat affected the outcome of the contact. The grand slam counted, giving to Castellanos its number 26 of the season, a timid one of its race.
Beating at the bottom of the first inning against Happ, Castellanos propelled a 0-1 throw into the left field seats to give Cincinnati a 2-1 lead.