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Arroyo dominant as Reds edge Cubs

Aug 21, 2008 - 4:56 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- A tricky wind current and a misplay by left fielder Alfonso Soriano led to a rare loss for the Chicago Cubs.

Bronson Arroyo tossed seven solid innings and Jolbert Cabrera hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the seventh after Soriano's miscue to help the Cincinnati Reds edge the Cubs, 2-1, on Wednesday.

Jeff Keppinger drove in a run for the Reds, who handed Chicago (77-49) its fifth loss in 22 games.

Cincinnati snapped the tie in the seventh when Edwin Encarnacion lifted a pop up to shallow left field, where Soriano was late to react and shortstop Ryan Theriot failed to make an over-the-shoulder catch.

"When a ball goes up in this ballpark, I just start running out there," Theriot said. "With the wind blowing in, I always think the ball is going to tail back toward me. Tonight it just took off the other way."

Encarnacion was given a gift double and moved to third on a groundout before scoring on Cabrera's sacrifice fly.

David Weathers threw a hitless eighth and Francisco Cordero struck out the side in the ninth for his 24th save in 30 chances.

Soriano took full blame for not being able to make the play.

"In that situation, I was playing back on the wall," Soriano said. "I definitely got a late break. I'll take the blame for that."

The miscue allowed Arroyo (11-10) to get the better of Ted Lilly (12-7) in a pitchers' duel. Arroyo allowed three hits and worked around a career-high five walks in helping the Reds to their fourth win in 12 games.

"I felt good tonight, but you can never get comfortable in this park," Arroyo said. "The wind was blowing in and that made it easier to pitch to some of their big hitters."

He struck out four and retired 11 of the last 12 hitters.

"I had my sinker working really good, which helped me get some of the groundouts," Arroyo said. "I also had my breaking ball going, and that gave me two weapons so they could not sit on one pitch."

"I thought his fastball had a lot of movement tonight - a little more than normal," said Chicago first baseman Derrek Lee, who went 0-for-3 with a walk. "He just kept me off-balance all night Give him the credit - he pitched well."

Lilly did not allow a hit until the sixth. However, that was a costly frame as the Reds tied the game, when Ryan Hanigan doubled and later scored on a groundout by Keppinger.

"(Lilly) had his "A" game tonight, no doubt," Hanigan said. "He got ahead, and many of our hitters were behind early, which is a tough way to hit. Lilly was putting guys away. We were lucky to stay close and be able to pull it out."

It was a tough loss for Lilly, who allowed two runs and two hits with seven strikeouts in seven innings. The lefthander was handed a 1-0 lead in the second when Aramis Ramirez singled, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Mark DeRosa.

"I thought I pitched pretty well, but when you lose, you always look back and second-guess yourself a little bit," Lilly said.

With the loss, the Cubs (77-49) saw their lead over the Milwaukee Brewers (73-55) in the National League Central cut to five games.

"It was a well-pitched game by both teams," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "Their team pitched just a little bit better."