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Arroyo helps Reds continue Cardinals' slide

Sep 13, 2007 - 3:12 AM CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- Bronson Arroyo dealt the St. Louis Cardinals a hurtful blow on Wednesday.

Arroyo pitched six effective innings as the Cincinnati Reds posted a 5-1 victory over the Cardinals, who have lost six in a row.

Brandon Phillips and Edwin Encarnacion homered for Cincinnati, which evened its record at 4-4 on a season-long 11-game home stand.

The Reds also delivered a whack to the playoff hopes of the Cardinals.

St. Louis (69-74) entered this contest 3 1/2 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers (74-71) in the National League Central division. The Cardinals could have cut their deficit even further because Milwaukee lost to Pittsburgh earlier on Wednesday.

"You have to give Arroyo credit," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "We're not having any fun right now that's for sure. What am I going to do? Yell and scream at them? I don't see anyone not trying. We'll just hang with it."

Arroyo (9-14) was impressive, yielding just one run and six hits while striking out five. The righthander, who has won four of his last five decisions, allowed three hits in his first two innings before settling down.

After surrendering a leadoff double to Yadier Molina, followed by single to Russell Branyon in the top of the second, the eight-year veteran retired 12 straight batters.

"In the minor leagues, I always had a good August," Arroyo said. "Maybe at the end of the season the other guys are getting tired. I really want to finish strong,"

Cincinnati took a 3-0 lead in the fourth, courtesy of a solo shot by Phillips and a two-run home run by Encarnacion off St. Louis starter Anthony Reyes.

For Phillips, who went 2-for-4 with a stolen base, it was his 29th homer, leaving him one blast shy of becoming the third Reds player in club history to reach 30 homers and 30 stolen bases in a year.

Only Phillips childhood hero, Barry Larkin, who was the last to do it in 1996 and Eric Davis (1987) have displayed that combination of speed and power.

"It would be nice to join them," Phillips said. "Barry Larkin was my favorite player and Eric Davis, I talked to over the winter. I will let you guys know how it feels when I do it. Is that OK?"

The homer by Encarnacion was his fourth career blast in six at-bats against Reyes. The massive shot landed in the upper deck in left, Encarnacion's third shot there in 2007.

Encarnacion smiled when asked about his mastery over Reyes.

"Yeah, I like to face him, I don't know why," Encarnacion said. "I just see the ball and hit it. "In the minor leagues, he was one of the nastiest pitchers I faced."

Reyes (2-14) surrendered three runs, four hits and two walks in 3 1/3 innings. The righthander has lost three straight and four of his last five decisions.

"I was making my pitches then things started slipping away," said Reyes, who was pressed into service after sitting idle for six days. "I hung a couple pitches and they hit them. Things like this (emergency start) can get on you quick, but it's my job to stay ready."

Arroyo was sailing along with a 3-0 lead until running into minor trouble in the sixth.

"He was cruising," Reds interim manager Pete Mackanin said. "But he had over 90 pitches. When it's late in the season, you don't want to see him get in trouble."

Three straight singles, including a run-scoring base hit by Ryan Ludwick cut the Cardinals' deficit to 3-1, before Arroyo minimized the damage by inducing Molina to hit into a double play to get out of the inning.

Despite his mastery on Wednesday, Arroyo was removed after the sixth.

"It was the first time all year, I was pulled out but really wanted to stay in," Arroyo said. "He (Mackanin) felt he could get another run, which we didn't get. I felt I could have gone out there for another 20 pitches. It was one of those nights that I felt like I didn't do all I could have."

"(Bronson) could have gone back out but I wanted to get another run there," added Mackanin, who sent Jorge Cantu to bat for Arroyo.

Cantu struck out but had been 4-for-6 as a pinch hitter.

The Reds added insurance runs in the bottom of the inning on RBI singles by Encarnacion and Javier Valentin to make it 5-1.

Jim Edmonds had three hits for the Cardinals, who also have dropped a season-high eight straight on the road.