• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Arroyo's arm, bat lead Reds to series win over Giants

Jul 6, 2007 - 4:09 AM CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- Bronson Arroyo kept Barry Bonds in the ballpark. Matt Morris was unable to do the same to the Cincinnati Reds starter.

Arroyo belted his third career home run while keeping Bonds four shy of Hank Aaron's all-time record as the Reds captured the rubber game of their three-game series against the San Francisco Giants with a 6-3 victory Thursday.

Arroyo (3-9), who had been winless since beating Colorado on May 6, held Bonds to a single in three at-bats. The slugger, who has 751 career homers, also struck out looking in the eighth inning against reliever Jon Coutlangus.

"I wasn't thinking about facing Bonds," said Coutlangus, who struck out the side in the eighth. "I was worried about holding the lead for Bronson. You really have to take all of the elements out of it when you face Bonds. Try to forget it's Barry Bonds and make it just you and the catcher. I just took the sign and tried to execute the pitch."

With Cincinnati already ahead, 1-0, and two outs in the second, Arroyo hit Morris' first pitch an estimated 386 feet to left field, with Bonds watching it sail over the wall from the warning track. It was the third career blast by Arroyo, whose first two came off Chicago's Glendon Rusch last season.

"I've been feeling a lot better the last three starts," Arroyo said. "I probably wouldn't have been able to hit that pitch out of the park a few weeks ago. I didn't feel strong. ... I'm surprised by any that I hit."

"Of all the first pitches I threw for strikes, that was the ball that got hit for a hit," Morris said. "You take your chances there. You don't want to be too cautious. He's not the best hitter on that team, but he was able to catch one that was right there for him."

On the mound, Arroyo held San Francisco to three runs, seven hits and two walks in 6 2/3 innings. The lanky righthander struck out four en route to ending a seven-game losing streak, the longest of his career.

"Since Seattle (on June 24), I've felt like I did last year," Arroyo said. "I can put hitters on the defensive instead of the other way around."

"Bronson made real good use of his fastball," Reds manager Pete Mackanin said.

The Reds rallied for two more runs in the second after Arroyo's blast. Morris hit Josh Hamilton with a pitch and Brandon Phillips singled before Ken Griffey Jr. plated both runners with a double, opening a 4-0 bulge.

After Alex Gonzalez extended the lead with an RBI double in the third, the Giants fought back in the fourth. Fred Lewis and Bonds sandwiched singles around a groundout by Ray Durham and Ryan Klesko drove in Lewis with a base hit.

Following a flyout by Bengie Molina, former Red Rich Aurilia - who went 3-for-4 - drew San Francisco within 5-2 with a run-scoring single.

But Hamilton swatted a solo shot, his 14th of the season, with two outs in the sixth to put Cincinnati in front, 6-2.

Mark Sweeney, another former Red, got back a run in the seventh with a pinch RBI single off Arroyo. Sweeney needs one hit as a pinch hitter to tie Manny Mota (150) for second place on the all-time list.

But Coutlangus came on and retired all four batters he faced and David Weathers worked around two hits in the ninth for his 16th save.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy expected more offense from his team at hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park.

"It's a better hitting club than to be shut down in this ballpark," Bochy said. "We need that one big clutch hit that opens up an inning. It's been eluding us pretty much all year."

Morris (7-5) lasted six innings, allowing six runs, seven hits and three walks. He struck out six but also hit a batter.

Giants reliever Steve Kline, who tossed a scoreless seventh, tied Tommy John for 15th place on the all-time list by making hi 760th career appearance.

Hamilton and Phillips had two hits apiece for the Reds, who won a series for the first time in seven tries and improved to 2-1 under Mackanin.

"I hope we can carry it over," Mackanin said. "This team has a lot of talent. (Former manager) Jerry Narron didn't do anything wrong. I'll try to bring a different personality to this team. I'll try to inspire them and point out the positives."