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Reds send Arroyo to hill in Los Angeles

Jun 13, 2011 - 2:35 PM (Sports Network) - Reds starter Bronson Arroyo has had his struggles with keeping the ball in the park this season. That could have the suddenly run- happy Dodgers excited about the start of their 12-game homestand.

Los Angeles and National League home run leader Matt Kemp play host to Cincinnati, which aims for a rare victory tonight at Dodgers Stadium in the opener of a three-game series.

Arroyo has dropped three of his last four decisions, allowing a pair of homers in four of his past five starts. That includes a loss to the Cubs on Wednesday as the right-hander was charged with four runs -- three earned -- on eight hits over 6 1/3 innings.

"Bronson threw the ball well today, but just got bit by the longball," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "He just has to figure out a way to keep the ball in the ballpark."

Arroyo fell to 4-6 with a 5.28 earned run average in 13 starts, but his lone homerless outing in his past five starts did come versus the Dodges on June 3. The 34-year-old got the win, yielding a run on six innings to improve to 4-4 with a 3.84 ERA in his career versus the Dodgers.

Hiroki Kuroda countered Arroyo on that day and will do so again tonight. He pitched well in losing a 2-1 decision to the Reds, giving up both runs on six hits over six innings. The righty had won his first three career starts against Cincinnati and has a 2.55 career earned run average versus the club.

That loss was part of Kuroda's current four-start slide that was extended on Wednesday in Philadelphia. The 36-year-old pitched well in a 2-0 setback, yielding just a Ryan Howard homer over 5 1/3 innings.

"It was a cutter inside, but it just didn't cut enough," Kuroda said of the pitch through an interpreter.

Kuroda fell to 5-7 in 13 starts this year despite a solid 3.35 ERA as Los Angeles has scored just five runs over his last four starts.

The Japanese hurler may be in line for more support tonight as the Dodgers have scored 21 runs in their past two games. They earned a split of their four-game set with the Rockies thanks to wins of 11-7 and 10-8 on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

James Loney hit a grand slam in Sunday's win, Matt Kemp added his NL-leading 20th homer and Rod Barajas also went deep for the Dodgers, who finished .500 on a 10-game road trip.

"To be able to get these last two was huge for us," said Dodgers manager Don Mattingly.

Rubby De La Rosa settled down after giving up a three-run homer to Seth Smith in the first inning, but left with a right forearm injury after throwing one pitch in the sixth. The rookie right-hander, making his second career start, gave up just three hits and three walks while striking out six.

Kemp has hit in six straight and nine of his past 10 games, with seven homers and 16 RBI in his past nine contests. He is 8-for-20 (.400) in his career versus Arroyo with two homers and three RBI.

The Reds look to rebound tonight after splitting a four-game set at San Francisco. Cincinnati was in position for a series win on Sunday thanks to a 10-2 victory the previous day, but dropped a 4-2 decision.

Scott Rolen and Edgar Renteria notched an RBI apiece for the Reds, who got six innings of two-run ball from starter Edinson Volquez before reliever Jose Arredondo gave up two runs in the seventh frame to take the loss.

"We're not playing well or badly. We just expect more out of ourselves," Reds right fielder Jay Bruce said.

Cincinnati may struggle in its attempt to get on track at Chavez Ravine. The Reds are just 2-13 in their last 15 at Los Angeles, while the Dodgers are 17-7 in the past 24 matchups overall.