CINCINNATI (AP) — Willi Castro hit a two-run homer and made two spec- tacular catches, Kenta Maeda combined on a four-hitter and the Minnesota Twins beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-0 on Tuesday night in another step toward their third AL Central title in five seasons.

Ryan Jeffers added a solo homer for Minnesota (80-72), which opened an eight-game lead over second-place Cleve- land with 10 games remaining.

Cincinnati (79-74), shut out for the 10th time, remained out of the NL’s three wild card berths.

In his first season after Tommy John surgery, Maeda (6-7) won his third straight start after four no-decisions. He allowed one hit in five innings, retiring his first 11 batters before Spencer Steer dou- bled to left and Jake Fraley. After a double steal, Castro made a diving catch of Tyler

Stephenson’s liner to center, which could have tied the game had it dropped.

“It was exceptional,” Maeda said through an interpreter. “That play saved us at least two runs. I want to give him as much hugs as possible.”

Castro leaped at the wall to rob Ste- phenson of a home run in the seventh, a day after Michael A. Taylor denied Will Benson on a drive to center.

“Castro took four runs off the board tonight,” Reds manager David Bell said. “It is amazing how a play like that can absolutely change a game. It changes how we manage the game and how they manage the game. It is all about players making plays. They were able to do that tonight.”

Castro considered the second catch better, primarily because he was looking at his position card when Stephenson hit

the ball.

“I didn’t see him hit it, but I was able

to track it,” Castro said. “I think it was the best play. You don’t see those plays too often.”

Despite not having his best four-seam fastball, Maeda struck out eight and walked one. Kody Funderburk, Emilio Pagán, Caleb Thielbar and Dylan Floro finished the Twins’ 12th shutout.

“I didn’t feel perfect today, but I was able to get five innings,” Maeda said. “I was able to use my offspeed pitches to get swings and misses.”

Fernando Cruz (1-2) walked Max Ke- pler in the second and was charged with the game’s first run when Matt Wallner singled off Buck Farmer,

Castro homered in the seventh on a 352-foot fly to right off off Ben Lively that opened a 6-0 lead.