GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: LA DODGERS (58-53) at CINCINNATI (47-64)

Arroyo, Reds shut out Dodgers

<h3>CINCINNATI 4, LA DODGERS 0</h3>CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- Cincinnati Reds starter Bronson Arroyorebounded on Tuesday from his worst start of the season.

The righthander pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings, leading theReds to a 4-0 triumph over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the openerof a three-game series.


Arroyo (5-12) allowed six hits and struck out five one weekafter he surrendered seven runs on seven hits, lasting just 12/3 innings on Wednesday against the Washington Nationals, a 7-2loss.


"I felt kind of middle of the road," Arroyo said. "I had acouple of quick innings that made me feel that I could managethe game. It was great to get off to a good start tonight.had a little better mix tonight than I did in Washington.

"One of the hard parts of this game is trying to figure out whois thinking along with you and who is just swinging the bat. Itlooked like they knew what was coming in the game atWashington."


The 30-year-old appeared to be on a path to punishment as heallowed singles to Juan Pierre and Jeff Kent in the firstinning.


The temperature was 97 degrees at game time, the hottest in thefive-season history of Great American Ball Park.


But it was Arroyo who turned up the heat as he struck out theDodgers' leading RBI man, Russell Martin, and one of thetoughest batters to strike out in the National League, LuisGonzalez, sandwiched around Kent's hit.


"We were hoping he would rebound from his last start,"Cincinnati interim manager Pete Mackanin said. "Arroyo can gethitters out, two ways. He can start them off with soft stuffand get them out with hard stuff or he can start them with hardstuff and get them out with soft stuff. When he was getting hitin Washington, it looked like they were sitting on his softstuff."


Arroyo survived more trouble in the third inning. After adouble by pitcher Mark Hendrickson and an error by BrandonPhillips, Arroyo coaxed a double-play ground ball from Martin.

He retired the next eight batters before Rafael Furcal reachedon an error by Jeff Conine. Pierre singled him to second withno outs but Arroyo caught Martin looking at a 3-2 pitch and gotfly ball outs from Kent and Gonzalez.


The Dodgers threatened again in the eighth inning, as Pierre andMartin reached against Jared Burton to begin the inning.However, Arroyo got Kent to ground into a double play beforeGonzalez hit a slow roller to first base to end the inning.

David Weathers retired the Dodgers in order in the ninth topreserve the win for Arroyo.


Cincinnati jumped on Hendrickson in the first inning, scoringthree times with two outs. After Adam Dunn plated Norris Hopperwith a single, Edwin Encarnacion stroked a double to leftfield, driving in Phillips and Dunn.


Phillips hit his 21st home run of the season to lead off thethird inning. The solo blast extended Cincinnati's lead to 4-0.

Hendrickson (4-6) settled down after the rough start. Thelefthander gave up just one base hit after Phillips' home run.

The 33-year-old scattered seven hits over six innings andsurrendered four runs.


Pierre had three hits for Los Angeles.