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Padres beat Arroyo, Reds 3-2

Jul 29, 2009 - 3:04 AM By JOE KAY AP Sports Writer

CINCINNATI(AP) -- For only the fifth time in July, the San Diego Padres had something to celebrate.

Kevin Kouzmanoff doubled twice off Bronson Arroyo, who has received scouts' attention as Cincinnati fades from contention, and added a tiebreaking sacrifice fly Tuesday night that gave the Padres a 3-2 victory over the Reds.

Adrian Gonzalez also homered for the Padres, who are 5-20 since July 1.

"Wow! It's been that long," closer Heath Bell said, reminded that he got his first save in 10 days. "It's definitely nice. We haven't won that many games."

Neither have the Reds. They've dropped 13 of 17, knocking them out of contention and drawing scouts to see who might be available for trade.

Five of them sat behind home plate and watched Arroyo (10-10) give up three runs in 6 1-3 innings. He allowed nine hits, seven of them for extra bases. Kouzmanoff put the Padres up 3-2 with a sacrifice fly in the seventh off Nick Masset.

Kevin Correia (7-8) bounced back from his worst start of the season by going six innings and allowing a pair of runs. Three Padres relievers took it from there, striking out seven of the nine batters they faced over the last three innings. Bell pitched the ninth for his 25th save in 26 chances.

"That was unbelievable," Correia said, referring to the bullpen's showing. "I don't think you could have a better three innings than they had. They didn't make a bad pitch for three innings. That's pretty impressive."

The Reds have to decide whether to deal in the next three days, before the non-waiver trading deadline.

"We've been inquiring, searching," manager Dusty Baker said. "Everyone wants our top, top guys."

Arroyo comes with a hefty contract that would be part of any discussion. He's making $9.5 million this year, and his deal jumps to $11 million next season, followed by an option year that can be bought out for another $2 million.

Arroyo is streaky - he got pounded in three straight starts, then went on a 16-inning scoreless streak over his next two. He was coming off a 6-2 loss to the Dodgers on Wednesday, when he lasted only 5 1-3 innings.

The Padres had a homer, a triple and five doubles off Arroyo, but couldn't get more than the three runs. Kouzmanoff doubled home a run in the first inning - he's 11 for 16 career off Arroyo - and Gonzalez hit a solo homer in the third.

"That was a good baseball game," Arroyo said. "I threw the ball pretty good. Kevin threw the ball pretty good. Both teams played well."

The Padres got two regulars back from the disabled list on Tuesday. Catcher Henry Blanco and second baseman David Eckstein had been sidelined since early July with strained hamstrings. Both started and went hitless.

Notes: Pete Rose watched part of the game from a seat behind home plate. He got a standing ovation from the crowd of 14,526 when he was shown on the videoboard. The banished hits king occasionally attends games in his hometown. ... To open spots for Blanco and Eckstein, the Padres designated C Jose Lobaton for assignment to the minors and optioned OF Drew Macias to Triple-A Portland. ... Reds INF Danny Richar had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, suffered on a headfirst slide July 2. He's the fifth Reds player to have surgery this season.