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Cincinnati
Reds
Shutout with
clout: Reds stage rout in Philly
Masterful Arroyo backed by Hanigan's big fly; Votto reaches six times
PHILADELPHIA -- Perhaps Saturday was a day for several Reds to bury
some unflattering narratives.
Bronson Arroyo and the team got past their bad track record in
Philadelphia. Ryan Hanigan kicked more dirt over the struggles he
endured the first month of his season. And Joey Votto continued to
refute any suggestions his power might still be sapped from last
season's knee surgery.
Add it all up, and the Reds had a decisive 10-0 win over the Phillies.
"Everything worked today," said Arroyo, who scattered five hits without
a walk over 7 2/3 innings with six strikeouts. "I didn't think anything
was outstanding, but everything collectively was a good mix against
this lineup. It's been so tough for us to win over the years in this
ballpark, it's nice to nail one down with good run support and keeping
them off balance all night."
The Reds, who have taken four of five games from the Phillies this
season, are now 12-23 at Citizens Bank Park since 2004. Arroyo entered
the day with a 9.60 ERA in three starts there over his career and with
a 6.00 ERA lifetime against Philadelphia. But he's now won his last
three starts against the Phillies, including two this season.
Arroyo threw first-pitch strikes to 22 of his 29 batters faced.
Philadelphia reached second base only once in the first seven innings.
It was Domonic Brown, who doubled to right field in the second inning
before being thrown out at third base attempting to stretch for a
triple. His overall record is now at 4-4 with a 3.28 ERA after nine
starts.
"Guys always pitch tough when they're one game under .500," Reds
manager Dusty Baker said. "Bronson hadn't been the recipient of a lot
of runs, but he was today. He pitched masterfully."
After a two-out single by Jimmy Rollins in the third inning, Arroyo
retired 12 of the next 13 batters. In the Phillies' sixth inning, he
retired the top third of the lineup in order using just six pitches.
"We used to hit Arroyo, if you remember," Phillies manager Charlie
Manuel said. "Then the last three times he's pitched against us he's
pitched the same kind of game. He pitches backwards. He threw us a lot
of slow hooks, a lot of changeups and spotted fastballs. And the last
three times he's pitched against us he's given us fits. We've had a
hard time handling him."
In the top of the second, after the first two batters singled, Hanigan
took Kyle Kendrick's 1-1 pitch and pulled it to left field for a
three-run homer and a 3-0 lead.
Hanigan, who last homered on July 6, 2012, at San Diego, has hit safely
in four of his five games (6-for-16) since returning from the disabled
list. His overall average may only be .164, but he was batting .079
before going on the DL with a sore right thumb and strained left
oblique.
"He got his hand right. Guys love throwing to him," Baker said of the
catcher. "You take for granted your hands and your feet. The feet are
your foundation, but your hands finish your swing. He didn't have that
finish to his swing. We had to force him to go on the DL because he
wasn't doing himself any favors, and we wanted him to get back and help
us."
Cincinnati could have had an even bigger rout, going just 5-for-19 with
runners in scoring position and stranding 12 on base. Rallies came up
empty with a runner in scoring position and less than two outs in the
first, third, fifth and seventh innings. Leading off in the sixth,
Hanigan was grazed on the helmet by a high fastball and advanced on
Arroyo's sacrifice. With two outs, Zack Cozart lined an RBI double down
the right-field line to make it 4-0…
Read the rest of the article at MLB.com
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