Final: Reds 4, Pirates 0
Posted by JohnFay at 5/1/2009 7:10 PM EDT on Cincinnati.com

Bronson Arroyo tossed a gem -- eight shutout innings, four hits, three walks, four strikeouts. Arroyo is 4-1.

The Reds took the lead in the sixth. Willy Taveras hit one to the 410 mark in left-center. It bounded over the low wall for a ground-rule double. Jerry Hairston bunted him over. Joey Votto singled to center to get Taveras in. Votto is 11-for-23 with runners in scoring position. Brandon Phillips lined out. Jay Bruce singled, sending Votto to third. Adam Rosales walked to load the bases. But Alex Gonzalez grounded one back to the pitcher.

The Reds blew a big chance in the seventh to add on.

But Phillips made it 2-0 by hitting the first pitch of the eighth out the opposite way to right for his third home run.

The Reds added two runs in the ninth. Hanigan singled. Laynce Nix walked. Taveras sacrificed. Jason Jaramillo threw it away. Hanigan scored, Nix went to third and Taveras to second. Phillips got Nix in with a sac fly.

Arroyo gave up hits to the first two hitters of the game. He then got a double play. He walked Adam LaRoche. But he got Eric Hinske on a deep fly to right. The wind really pushed the ball toward left.

After the walk to LaRoche, Arroyo retired 10 in a row and 16 of 17.

Game started on time, but it rained steadily through the late innings.

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Reds 4, Pirates 0

By ALAN ROBINSON

AP Sports Writer

PITTSBURGH -- Bronson Arroyo bounced back from his worst start of the season to limit Pittsburgh to four singles over eight innings, a slumping Brandon Phillips homered and the Cincinnati Reds ran the Pirates' scoreless innings streak to 22 with a 4-0 victory Friday night.


Cincinnati Reds pitcher Bronson Arroyo throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh Friday, May 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)


Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips, left, gets the force at second on Pittsburgh Pirates' Adam LaRoche but can't complete the double play on Pirates' Eric Hinske in the seventh inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh Friday, May 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Arroyo (4-1) and reliever Francisco Cordero combined to give up five hits, none for extra bases, in the Reds' fourth shutout victory of the season.


Cincinnati Reds' Brandon Phillips (4) is greeted by teammate Adam Rosales (23) after hitting a solo-home run off Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher John Grabow in the eighth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh Friday, May 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

The Pirates were shut out for the second straight game, following up a 1-0 loss Wednesday in which Milwaukee winning pitcher Yovani Gallardo homered for the only run. They haven't scored since the fifth inning of a 6-5 loss to the Brewers on Tuesday.

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Reds defeat Pirates 4-0

By John Fay • jfay@enquirer.com • May 1, 2009

PITTSBURGH – The Reds admittedly are going to go only as far as their starting pitching takes them this season.

For the last two games, it appears that might be pretty far.

Bronson Arroyo threw eight shutout innings in the Reds’ 4-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates Friday night at PNC Park.

His gem came one game after Edinson Volquez threw eight innings of one-hit, shutout ball in a 3-0 win over Houston Wednesday.

“That’s what you hope for,” Arroyo said. “I definitely feel like it’s the best staff since I’ve been here. If we continue to do things like this, it breeds confidence in the guys from top to bottom.”

Arroyo (4-1) allowed only four hits, walked three and struck out four. The only serious jam he faced was in the first inning, although he also had a throwing error in the seventh.

“That was definitely the best command I’ve had by far,” Arroyo said. “After I got halfway through the first inning, I knew my command on my fastball was much better than it’s been in a long time. It allowed me to pitch down in the zone, away, and get double-play balls when I needed it.”

The Reds (12-10) improved to a major-league best 8-3 on the road this season.

“It was a great way to start a road trip,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “We played well, except for the one error.”

Pirates left-hander Zach Duke matched Arroyo through five innings.

But Willy Taveras hit a ball to the 410-foot mark in left-center field that bounded over the low wall for a ground-rule double. Jerry Hairston bunted him over, and Joey Votto singled to center to drive in Taveras. That hit made Votto 11-for-23 with runners in scoring position.

Brandon Phillips gave the Reds a 2-0 lead by hitting the first pitch of the eighth out the opposite way to right field for his third home run of the year and second in as many starts.

The Reds added two unearned runs in the ninth inning.

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