Reds pitching coach has comical mound visit with Luis Castillo after 8 consecutive balls

The Cincinnati Reds split their two-game set with the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Luis Castillo pitched brilliantly on Tuesday night and Reds escaped with a 2-1 victory.

However, things didn't go too well for Hunter Greene on Wednesday night. The rookie was striking out the Red Sox left and right through the first few innings but hit a wall in the fourth. Greene allowed four runs on six hits and was lifted after 3.2 innings of work.

Perhaps Greene needed the same type of comical mound visit that Castillo received from Reds pitching coach Derek Johnson on Tuesday night.

Reds pitching coach Derek Johnson had a comical mound visit with Luis Castillo.

Entering the bottom of the sixth inning on Tuesday, Luis Castillo and the Cincinnati Reds were nursing a one-run lead courtesy of a throwing error by Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers.

Castillo, who had been cruising through the previous five frames, walked Red Sox outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. on four straight pitches. The next batter, Boston's Enrique Hernandez received a free pass on four consecutive pitches as well.

Cincinnati's pitching coach Derek Johnson promptly exited the dugout and made his way to the mound. The conversation that ensued showed Castillo laughing and chuckling while he, Johnson, and catcher Tyler Stephenson were discussing how to approach the next hitter.

It was later revealed on the Reds broadcast from Wednesday night that Johnson jokingly questioned whether or not Castillo could even see the plate. Here's a Twitter link via Pitching Ninja that breaks down the conversation between Castillo and Johnson.

Johnson's pep talk seemed to help Castillo get back on track as the next batter he faced, Rafael Devers, grounded into a double play. La Piedra then got J.D. Martinez to strikeout swinging to end Boston's threat in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Derek Johnson is well-regarded as one of the best pitching coaches in the game, but sometimes just having the type of relationship he has with the Reds pitching staff enables him to keep those players focused. Sometimes, it seems, some mild teasing might be just what the doctor ordered.