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Kennedy guides Diamondbacks over Reds

Apr 21, 2011 - 4:01 AM Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - Justin Upton's first inning sacrifice fly and Ian Kennedy's second inning RBI proved to be enough, as the Arizona Diamondbacks downed the Cincinnati Reds, 3-1, in the second of a three-game set from Great American Ball Park.

Ryan Roberts added an RBI double for the Diamondbacks, who have won three straight. Stephen Drew went 2-for-4 and scored twice.

Kennedy (2-1) picked up the win after allowing four hits and one run in 5 1/3 innings. J.J. Putz earned his fifth save of the season after pitching a scoreless ninth.

"Ian (Kennedy) was pretty much stellar, you know," said catcher Miguel Montero. "He threw strikes ... he was on."

Joey Votto went 2-for-4 and provided the lone RBI for the Reds, who have lost four straight and nine of their last 13.

Bronson Arroyo (2-2) settled down after early-inning jitters to pitch 6 1/3 innings, allowing five hits and three earned runs in the loss. He struck out eight batters.

"We're just getting beat to the punch right now," said Arroyo. "They are just scoring first, getting big hits and we're not when we need it and, you know, that's baseball."

The Diamondbacks got to Arroyo early, beginning with a Willie Bloomquist leadoff double in the top of the first. Kelly Johnson followed with a double to right field, moving Bloomquist to third, before Upton got Arizona on the board with a fly ball to center.

The top of the second again saw Arizona lead off with a double, as Drew lined an 0-2 cutter into left field. After a Roberts fly ball to right moved Drew to third, Kennedy dribbled a soft grounder to third baseman Scott Rolen, scoring Drew on a fielder's choice.

Arroyo settled down significantly after the Kennedy RBI, retiring the next 14 batters in order before Drew singled on a soft liner to left in the top of the seventh. Roberts followed with a double, scoring Drew and padding the Diamondbacks' lead.

"Arroyo, I think he did a good job," said Montero. "It was a quality start, he kept us off balance. Fortunately we got a couple hits in a good situation."

Cincinnati's lone run came in the bottom of the sixth, when Votto ripped a one-out double into the right field corner, driving in Drew Stubbs, who reached earlier with a leadoff walk.

The combination of Juan Gutierrez, Sam Demel and David Hernandez acted as the bridge to Putz, throwing a combined 2 2/3 scoreless innings in relief.

Game Notes

Arizona has played five straight games decided by three runs or less and has gone 3-2 over that span...Upton, who had hit safely in nine of 10 games entering Wednesday, was held hitless, while Chris Young, who had hit safely in 10 of his last 11 games, was also held hitless.