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Arroyo, Reds shut out Astros in last home game

Sep 21, 2011 - 7:13 PM Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - Bronson Arroyo tossed his first shutout in over two years, as the Cincinnati Reds handled the Houston Astros, 2-0, in the rubber match of a three-game series.

Arroyo (9-12) gave up six hits and recorded his first shutout since August 13, 2009. The right-hander struck out two and did not issue a walk in his first win since August 24.

"That was great. Just last week people were talking about taking him out," Reds manager Dusty Baker said of Arroyo.

Miguel Cairo hit a solo homer for the Reds, who finished their 2011 home schedule with a 42-39 mark. Chris Heisey had an RBI single in the first inning.

Wandy Rodriguez (11-11) allowed two runs on four hits over seven innings for the Astros, who went 2-4 on a six-game road trip.

The Reds gave Arroyo all the support he would need in the first inning. Brandon Phillips led off with a single, stole second and scored on Heisey's bloop single to center.

Cairo's homer to left in the second made it a 2-0 game.

Arroyo retired the first 10 batters he faced in order. J.B. Shuck reached first on Edgar Renteria's fielding error in the fourth. Arroyo quickly got J.D. Martinez to ground into a double play.

Houston's first hit came in the fifth. Carlos Lee led off with a bloop single over the head of third baseman Cairo. After Matt Downs grounded into a double play, Chris Johnson doubled to right. Clint Barmes flied out to end the frame.

The Astros left a runner on third in the sixth and stranded runners on the corners in the eighth.

Game Notes

Cincinnati won the season series with Houston, 9-6...Arroyo is 12-6 in 28 career appearances against the Astros. He has four career shutouts and 12 complete games...Rodriguez fell to 7-9 lifetime against the Reds...Cincinnati went 5-5 on a 10-game homestand...Reds third baseman Scott Rolen will not play the rest of the season. He had arthroscopic surgery on August 3 to remove bone spurs and fragments in a joint in his left shoulder. The decision was made after Rolen saw team medical director Dr. Tim Kremchek on Tuesday...Houston went 25-56 on the road this season.