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Arroyo finally gets some support as Reds pound Astros

May 2, 2007 - 4:44 AM HOUSTON (Ticker) -- Bronson Arroyo has had a difficult time getting run support this season. That wasn't the case Tuesday night.

Arroyo pitched seven strong innings and the Cincinnati Reds pounded out 15 hits en route to an 11-2 win over the hapless Houston Astros.

Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Gonzalez hit back-to-back homers off Astros rookie Matt Albers to lead off the third and Adam Dunn homered, drove in three runs and scored three runs for the Reds, who have won three straight.

Arroyo (1-2) entered the game with a 2.86 ERA but had yet to earn a win, due mostly to poor offensive support. Cincinnati's hitters had managed more than two runs in a game just once in Arroyo's first five starts.

"I've been feeling pretty solid all year long," Arroyo said. "It's nice to get that early run support. You always want to come out of spring and get that first win, but it's nice to finally get it."

The lanky righthander was sharp throughout against Houston, yielding just three hits while striking out five and walking three. The Astros' lone run off Arroyo came on Luke Scott's sacrifice fly in the fourth inning. That was the only time Houston got a runner as far as third base.

"It's especially nice to know you have a game that's under control," Arroyo said. "I've pitched well. It's baseball - I'd much rather have it this way than getting shelled every other time."

Griffey's homer was the 565th of his career. The future Hall of Famer went 3-for-3 with a pair of RBI and two runs scored in his first game action since being diagnosed with pleurisy - an inflammation in the lining of the lungs - on Friday.

"I felt pretty good out there," Griffey said. "I was just trying to figure out things. I just wanted to get the feel of the game out there.

"The home run ... I just elevated it. I was glad we were able to score some runs for (Arroyo)."

Griffey was happy he wasn't challenged too much defensively.

"None in the lights, none down the line," he said. "That's good."

The Reds went ahead in the top of the second when third baseman Mike Lamb's error allowed two runs to score.

Albers (0-1) made the hole deeper with the back-to-back homers in the third before his defense let him down again.

Dunn's grounder got through Houston first baseman Lance Berkman, and he eventually came around to score Cincinnati 's fifth run on David Ross' single. Rookie sensation Josh Hamilton singled Ross home before Albers was lifted. The righthander allowed six runs - three earned - and eight hits in 2 1/3 innings.

"I wasn't making my pitches," Albers said. "I was leaving the ball up. The ball was leaking away. I never really got in a rhythm. It was just one of those days."

The early offense was more than enough support for Arroyo, pleasing Reds manager Jerry Narron.

"Bronson did a great job," Narron said. "You try to keep the guys off base in front of (Lance) Berkman and (Carlos) Lee."

The Reds tacked four more on the board in the sixth off Houston reliever Trever Miller. Griffey drove in his second run of the game with a single and Dunn followed with his three-run shot.

Cincinnati righthander Brad Salmon made his major league debut with a scoreless ninth.

"It was good to see Brad Salmon come in there, too, and get a double play in his first game," Narron said.

Houston has now lost nine of its last 10 games, and the lack of consistent offense has been the primary concern. The Astros have managed just 21 runs in the nine losses.

That's a fact that hasn't escaped Houston manager Phil Garner.

"We've lost a few games the last 10 days," Garner said. "It's not fun. The good news is, we don't play in the past. We'll get something going."

Garner said the reason for Alber's struggles were simple.

"He got the ball up. His ball was flat and he got behind," Garner said. "That's a bad combination. His sinker is his pitch, and he didn't throw many good ones tonight."