Haren, Arroyo solid as Reds beat Angels

Published 3:11 am Thursday, March 29, 2012

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Reds manager Dusty Baker was going to send Ryan Ludwick home, but the outfielder sent Baker home with a win instead.

Dan Haren and Bronson Arroyo made solid starts, and Ludwick’s two-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning gave Cincinnati a 5-4 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday.

Ludwick was sent home on Tuesday because he felt nauseous. Baker intended to give him another day away from the team, but Ludwick showed up and talked him out of it.

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“He wanted to play,” Baker said. “I was going to send him home. He said he felt better. I sent him (Tuesday) to quarantine him so the other guys wouldn’t get sick.”

Ludwick, trying to win playing time in left field, homered in the ninth off Loek Van Mil, who also walked Chris Heisey.

Haren threw 90 pitches in 5 2-3 innings for the Angels, allowing two runs and nine hits. He struck out two.

He has one more start to shake off a “dead arm” to get ready for the season.

Arroyo worked six innings, his longest performance of the spring. He allowed two runs and four hits, including Vernon Wells’ third homer.

Arroyo rebounded from a ragged outing in which he walked five in four innings. He walked only one Angels batter.

“Bronson threw the ball great,” Baker said. “His command, everything was much better.”

Paul Janish hit a home run off Kevin Jepsen for Cincinnati. Roberto Lopez hit a two-run homer off minor leaguer Travis Webb to give the Angels a 4-2 lead.

Jason Isringhausen, trying to win a job with the Angels, pitched a scoreless inning before Van Mil took over.

“I was wondering when we were going to hit some home runs,” Baker said. “I looked at the score sheet before Ludwick came up and we’ve been outhomered 32-20.”

NOTES: Reds RHP Josh Judy cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Louisville. … Cincinnati catchers Corky Miller and Dioner Navarro were reassigned to minor league camp along with outfielder Daryl Jones. The Reds have 28 players in camp, excluding injured pitchers Ryan Madson, Jordan Smith and Nick Masset, who will start the season on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his right shoulder. … Haren will make his next start Monday in an exhibition at Anaheim. … The Angels have not officially announced their opening-day starter.