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Arroyo, Votto help Reds top Padres

May 25, 2008 - 6:32 AM By Tim Powers PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- Bronson Arroyo pitched 6 1/3 solid innings and Joey Votto drove in four runs to help the Cincinnati Reds post a 7-2 victory over the San Diego Padres on Saturday.

Arroyo (3-4) allowed two runs and six hits to win his second consecutive decision, recording a season-high nine strikeouts. After a sluggish 0-3 start to the season, the 31-year-old righthander has won three of his last four decisions.

"I've been feeling good," Arroyo said. "They got me the runs early and I gave up a couple, but we stopped the bleeding there. I had about the same stuff that I've had the last couple of times out."

San Diego brought the tying run to the plate in the seventh to chase Arroyo from the game, but Bill Bray came on to strike out pinch hitter Scott Hairston and Tadahito Iguchi to preserve the lead.

"(Arroyo's) command was excellent," said bench coach Chris Speier, who filled in as manager for the suspended Dusty Baker. "He kept his pitches to a minimum and he had them all off balance. I was kind of hoping he could get through that seventh, but Billy Bray came in and did the job for us."

Bray and David Weathers combined to hold San Diego scoreless in the eighth before Francisco Cordero worked around a single and an error in the ninth.

Votto's three-run homer - his 10th of the season - off San Diego starter Wil Ledezma in the second inning gave the Reds an early advantage. The rookie added an RBI groundout during a two-run third that made it 5-0.

"It's a big ballyard, so you can't assume anything," Votto said of his home run. "I'm just going to go with (the success) and hopefully come through in situations to help the team win. I think there is a lot of offense on this team, and I think that's going to continue to come through."

Paul McAnulty's two-run triple in the fourth cut the deficit to 5-2, but San Diego was unable to muster any more offense as it scored two runs or less for the 23rd time in 51 games this season.

"Arroyo has had some effectiveness in his career," Padres manager Bud Black said. "He threw a lot of off-speed pitches to us, changed speeds, and kept us off balance. We've got to make better contact and put the bat on the ball."

Paul Janish delivered a two-run single in the ninth against Sean Henn to provide the final margin.

Ledezma (0-2) surrendered five runs and five hits in just three innings in losing his second straight start as a fill-in for injured ace Jake Peavy. The 27-year-old struck out two and walked two.

"Overall, tonight we had way too many walks," Black said. "That can't happen in a major league game."

Brandon Phillips fell a home run shy of the cycle for the Reds, who won their second straight after dropping 11 of their previous 12 road contests.