Luis Castillo delivered exactly what the Chicago White Sox were hoping for when they traded for him before the August deadline: dominance on the mound and a statement win against his former team.

The veteran right-hander struck out 10 batters over seven scoreless innings, allowing just one hit, as the White Sox blanked the Cincinnati Reds 5-0 on Wednesday night at Rate Field. It was a masterclass performance from Castillo, who spent six seasons in Cincinnati before joining Seattle and then Chicago.

Redemption After Rocky Debut

Castillo's gem comes on the heels of a forgettable White Sox debut last week in Boston, where he was tagged for five earned runs in just four innings. The 34-year-old showed no lingering effects from that rough outing, carving through a Reds lineup that knew him well from his days in the organization.

"Seven scoreless, one hit and 10 strikeouts," Yahoo Sports noted in their game recap. "Castillo gave the White Sox what they were looking for after he allowed five runs in his debut with the team last week."

NBC Sports highlighted the significance of the matchup: "Castillo, who debuted with the Reds and spent six seasons in Cincinnati, dominated against his former team Wednesday."

Offensive Support Seals the Win

While Castillo was mowing down Reds hitters, his teammates provided more than enough run support. Drew Romo launched a solo home run, and Chase Meidroth added a two-run bomb to back up Castillo's stellar outing.

The White Sox bullpen locked down the final two innings to preserve the combined two-hitter, giving Chicago its second straight win and improving their record to 62-57 on the season.

High Stakes Trade Paying Dividends

The White Sox acquired Castillo from the Seattle Mariners on August 2nd in a four-player deal that sent reliever Seranthony Domínguez, outfielder Nolan Jones, catching prospect Boston Smith, and cash considerations to Seattle.

Chicago's front office made the move to bolster their rotation for a potential playoff push, and Wednesday's performance showed why Castillo was worth the cost. His ability to miss bats—evidenced by the 10 strikeouts—and limit hard contact gives the White Sox a legitimate ace for the stretch run.

After a shaky start to his White Sox tenure, Castillo proved he still has elite stuff when he's locked in. If he can build on this outing, Chicago's gamble on the veteran hurler could pay major dividends down the stretch.

The White Sox will look to complete the series sweep of Cincinnati on Thursday before heading on the road for a critical weekend set against division rival Minnesota.