Reds bounce back to beat D-Backs, 6-1
Published 11:45 pm Saturday, April 9, 2011
PHOENIX (AP) — Bronson Arroyo allowed one run — unearned because of his own throwing error — in six innings, Jonny Gomes doubled in two runs in the ninth and the Cincinnati Reds overcame a strong pitching performance by Daniel Hudson to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-1 on Saturday night.
Arroyo (2-0) scattered eight hits as the Diamondbacks failed to convert two scoring threats in the first four innings, then Arizona reliever Juan Gutierrez’s throwing error cleared the way for the Reds’ four-run ninth.
Hudson (0-2) gave up two runs on three hits in seven innings, striking out eight and walking three. After scoring twice in the first inning, the Reds had only two baserunners in the next six against the 24-year-old right-hander, and neither got past first base.
Scott Rolen had an RBI single and Jay Bruce brought in the second run with a sacrifice fly for the Reds in the first.
Arizona cut it to 2-1 in the sixth when Chris Young singled, advanced from first to third on Arroyo’s throwing error, then scored on Melvin Mora’s two-out single.
After Cincinnati’s Aroldis Chapman hit 103 mph on the Chase Field radar gun while throwing a scoreless eighth, the Diamondbacks fell apart in the ninth.
Gutierrez walked the leadoff batter, Joey Votto, and then tried to barehand Rolen’s grounder. He knocked the ball down, grabbed it, then threw it away to first. Instead of what could have been a double play had the ball made it past the pitcher to an infielder, runners were at second and third with no outs.
Gomes doubled off the glove of Mora at third to bring both runners home.
Hudson struck out Drew Stubbs to start the game, then Brandon Phillips singled and Votto walked. Rolen followed with a single for his ninth RBI of the season, then Gomes walked to load the bases with one out.
Jay Bruce hit a fly to short center that Young caught and fired toward home. Hudson cut off the throw and relayed it to third to catch Rolen trying to advance. Votto crossed the plate just before Rolen was tagged out to make it 2-0.
Arizona blew scoring chances in the first and fourth innings.
In the first, Stephen Drew and Justin Upton singled with one out and each stole a base to put runners at second and third with one out. Arroyo fanned Russell Branyan and Young to escape the jam.
In the fourth, Branyan led off with a double off the fence in right but, not particularly fleet afoot, he was held at third on Miguel Montero’s single, leaving runners at first and third with one out. Mora popped out, then Gerardo Parra bounced out to end the inning.
NOTES: Votto walked three times. … Arizona outhit the Reds 9-6. … Eighteen of the 25 players on Arizona’s opening-day roster were not with the team at the start of 2010. … Ex-Arizona State star RHP Mike Leake (1-0) will make his first appearance against the Diamondbacks when he starts for the Reds in the series finale on Sunday.