Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) – Bronson Arroyo twirled seven strong innings to help the Cincinnati Reds take a 5-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the finale of a three-game set.
Arroyo (14-7) gave up just two runs on seven hits with six strikeouts for the Reds, who have won eight of their last nine. Joey Votto went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, three RBI and two runs scored while Ryan Hanigan drove in a pair in the win.
With the win, the Reds maintained their 3 1/2 game lead over the Cardinals for first place in the NL Central.
A.J. Ellis went 3-for-3 with an RBI while Matt Kemp added a solo home run for the Dodgers, who were looking for their first series win since taking two of three against Washington from August 6-8.
Clayton Kershaw (11-8) was saddled with the loss as he was charged with three runs on five hits with five walks and 11 strikeouts over seven innings.
The Reds jumped on top in the first inning. Brandon Phillips led off with a single and, after Miguel Cairo struck out, back-to-back walks to Votto and Jonny Gomes loaded the bases. Chris Heisey then struck out, but Hanigan punched a two-run single to center for a 2-0 lead.
The Dodgers got one back in the second when Kemp led off the frame with a blast over the center field wall, his 21st home run of the season.
The score remained that way until the fifth when Los Angeles tied the game. With one out, Casey Blake singled and Jamey Carroll followed with a base hit. Ellis then stroked a single to center to make it a 2-2 game.
Cincinnati, though, took the lead right back as Votto led off the sixth with a shot to left, his 29th homer of the season, for a 3-2 advantage.
Arroyo worked around a leadoff single in the sixth then threw a scoreless seventh before handing the ball to Nick Masset, who tossed a 1-2-3 eighth inning.
The Reds gave themselves some insurance in the ninth as Votto’s two-run single off Jonathan Broxton with the bases loaded made it a 5-2 game.
Francisco Cordero set the Dodgers down in order in the ninth to pick up his 34th save of the season.
Cincinnati continues its nine-game road trip in San Francisco on Monday…The Reds won the season series, 5-4…The Dodgers hit the road and begin a three- game series in Milwaukee on Tuesday…It was Cincinnati’s first series win in Los Angeles since May 14-16, 2004…Arroyo is 3-4 against the Dodgers in his career.