Arroyo & Reds blank Pirates for second straight shutout

[Box Score]

The Reds got another big 2-out hit and RBI from Joey Votto and a backside home run from Brandon Phillips, and it would technically be all they needed. Bronson Arroyo threw 8 innings of shutout ball in what would turn out to be the second straight shutout from the Reds, catapultingnd place in the NL Central division with a 4-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

This game flew right along in the beginning, and due to great pitching by the Pirates Zach Duke; the first 5 innings were played in just over an hour. But for the second game in a row the Reds bested a good pitching performance from the opponent with a sparkling performance of their own.

“I feel like this like this is definitely the best staff since I’ve been here and if we continue to do things like this, it breeds conficdence,” said Arroyo.

“From top to bottom, everybody throws good. Hopefully we can keep holding ‘em down until we start scoring eight or nine a night and not sweat it so much.”

This Reds team just has a different makeup, and after 22 games if you’ve watched them closely you realize you’re in for a lot of low scoring, boring ballgames as a fan. This won’t be the last time they scratch across a few ugly runs and win by a low score. There will also be nights that they lose 2-1 and can’t seem to mount much. The days of playing for the big inning and the three run homer are over. Evidenced by the leadoff double by Willy Taveras that began the first Cincinnati scoring threat, Jerry Hairston was sent to the plate quickly bunting Taveras to third. The Reds weren’t thinking big inning, they were thinking of just getting a run and letting their pitching carry them.

When the Reds were trotting out Josh Fogg, Jimmy Haynes, and Elmer Dessens every 5th day, they didn’t have that luxury.