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SNS sports mobileREDS 9, PIRATES 1
Arroyo good enough with big, early lead
Starter gives up one run in six innings; Bruce draws two walks, hits another double.
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Thursday, May 29, 2008
CINCINNATI — Bronson Arroyo hasn't felt right since the Reds returned from the West Coast. The three-hour time change might be messing with his body, but it certainly didn't change his ability to secure wins on three days rest.
After he allowed just three hits and a run in six innings Wednesday, May 28, during the Reds' 9-1 victory against the Pirates, their record ninth straight at Great American Ball Park, Arroyo said he didn't feel well.
Extras
But with a six-run lead after the first inning, he didn't need to be at his best. He just needed to be decent. In evening his record at 4-4, Arroyo was a bit better than that.
"Today was probably the worst I've ever felt on three days," said Arroyo, who is 2-0 with a 2.14 ERA on three days rest in five career starts. "We were on the West Coast for a week, and that throws your body off. I haven't felt right since we've been back. I just felt sluggish all day. It was weird. I felt cold on the inside."
He also left the Pirates cold at the plate.
"We got six runs early, and that allowed me to pitch a lot easier," he said. "I threw a lot of fastballs in there because I was having a hard time commanding the ball at times. I was getting some guys out on 2-1 or 3-1 counts when they probably should have been hitting it a lot harder than that."
Instead, the Reds were the ones to hit. They chased Pittsburgh left-hander Tom Gorzelanny in the first inning — after he had given up four hits and six runs in 2/3 of an inning — and with center fielder Jay Bruce hitting a double and drawing two more walks, Joey Votto going 3-for-3 with three runs scored and David Ross hitting his first home run of the season, Cincinnati continued to pound the Pirates.
"Everybody is contributing," Ross said. "The lineup is flowing real well these last two nights with Jay in the lineup and Jerry (Hairston Jr., who went 3-for-5) setting the table."
Coming off a 2-5 road trip to Los Angeles and San Diego, including that 18-inning game Sunday that forced Arroyo to the mound Wednesday, the Reds continued their dominance at home. They haven't lost here since May 6, and the nine-game streak is their best home stretch since they accomplished the same feat in 1980.
Today's game
Who: Pirates (Duke 2-3) at Reds (Harang 2-6)
When: 7:10 p.m.
TV: FSN Ohio
Radio: WONE-AM (980); WLW-AM (700)
