For the eighth straight time, the Reds beat the Pirates Thursday, Sept. 24, in PNC Park, this time by 4-1 as Bronson Arroyo gave up one run and five hits over seven innings, his 12th straight quality start.
Some of the victories over the pathetic Pirates haven't even been close: 4-1, 4-3, 6-3, 11-5, 5-3, 10-4, 12-2, 4-1. And the two teams finish the season with three games next weekend in Great American Ball Park.
The Pirates have lost 23 of their last 26 and play as if their bags are packed, ready for a winter of golfing, hunting and fishing, as soon as all this losing ends.
Arroyo had a shutout until the seventh when he gave up a home run to Lastings Milledge. The Pirates set off celebratory fireworks and within seconds an olive green military helicopter, part of the security for the G20 Summit, swept over the stadium to check out the noise and smoke.
If anybody needed checked by the Secret Service for carrying a weapon, it would be Joey Votto and his baseball bat. His two-run double highlighted Cincinnati's four-run third inning.
For the three-game series, Votto had six doubles, two singles and a walk.
But forget Arroyo's pitching for a moment. How about his legs? Scott Rolen noticed.
"Don't forget when you write your story that we scored four runs after Arroyo beat out that double-play ball. All he did was run. Four runs. Reds win," said Rolen.
The Reds had one out and a runner on first in the third when Arroyo bunted to third. The throw to second wiped out Ryan Hanigan, but Arroyo beat the throw to first.
If he doesn't beat that throw, the inning is over. Instead, the next four Reds hit safely for four runs, helping Arroyo secure his 14th victory.
"In hindsight, it was definitely a big play," Arroyo said of his hustle. "I haven't had a big lead like that in a long time, to get four runs — especially in a 12:30 game where it's impossible for me to get up at that time of day.
"I didn't have very good stuff today and I was trying to catch a groove, but getting that big lead allowed me to pitch away and soft to conserve some energy," he said. "I didn't have much of anything out there."
With his 14th win, Arroyo is one away from tying his career high.
"Considering what our record is as a team and the run support I haven't gotten, I'm definitely happy with the way the season has gone as a whole for me," he added. "I might get two more starts so I'll take 15 wins in a year on any year, even on a good team."
So manager Dusty Baker's Drive For 75 continues, his quest for 75 victories, one more than last year. By sweeping the Pirates, the Reds have won eight of their last 10.
"Another outstanding start by Bronson and it worked out perfectly when he ran out of gas after seven," said Baker. "Nick Masset hadn't gone in four days and Francisco Cordero hadn't gone in four days."
Masset pitched a 1-2-3 eighth with two strikeouts and Cordero wobbled home in the ninth for his 39th save by giving up a walk and two hits, but was bailed out by a double play.
"The four-run inning was the ballgame and I told Bronson, 'You're the one who put us in line to win that game by beating out that double-play ball because all the runs scored after they didn't turn that double play,'" Baker said. "That shows what hustle and speed can do for you."
And what the Pittsburgh Pirates can do for you.
About the Author