Arroyo's strong outing keeps Reds in win column

After beating the Pirates 2-1 in the series opener last night, the Reds have now won three games in a row. They currently sit at 17-15, three games behind the Cardinals in the National League Central.

Bronson Arroyo pitched into the eighth inning and earned his second victory of the season. He allowed just five hits and one run before turning the game over to the bullpen.

Arthur Rhodes finished the eighth and kept the Pirates from doing further damage. The scoreless inning lowered his earned run average to a miniscule 0.69. Francisco Cordero raised everyone’s blood pressure in the ninth, but eventually closed it out to notch his 11th save.

The two Cincinnati runs came on RBI doubles. Laynce Nix gave the Reds the lead in the fourth when he drove in Jay Bruce. Scott Rolen had two doubles on the night, the second driving in Joey Votto in the eighth.