Bronson Arroyo wins No. 100 for his career with 5-2 win over the Dodgers
Clayton Kershaw pitched an incredible game Sunday for the Los Angeles Dodgers giving up only five hits and three earned runs while striking out 11 and walking five over seven innings of work. However, it was not enough for him to overcome a solid game by Cincinnati Reds starter Bronson Arroyo as the Reds won 5-2.
Arroyo got the 100th win of his career and No. 14 for the season after allowing only seven hits and two earned runs over seven innings while striking out six. For the fifth time in six seasons he has earned at least 14 wins; barring injury he has a good chance of beating his career high in wins (15).
His milestone is slightly overshadowed by the pursuit of another milestone by first baseman Joey Votto. The hard hitting slugger is in pursuit of the elusive Triple Crown, a feat that no batter has done since 1967 and no National League player since Joe Medwick did with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1937.
Votto hit home run No. 29 on the season, three less than National League leader Albert Pujols, to give the Reds the lead for good in the top of the sixth inning. In the ninth inning he hit a single to left field that scored Paul Janish and Jay Bruce. His batting average remains the best in the NL with .323. Pujols still holds the RBI lead with 89, but Votto closed the gap with three Sunday (86).
Los Angeles was still in the game at the start of the ninth inning when manager Joe Torre decided to put Jonathon Broxton in the game; Broxton had recently been demoted from his closer’s role and did nothing to redeem himself giving up three hits and two earned runs before getting pulled for Ronald Belisario.
Francisco Cordero pitched a scoreless ninth to preserve the win for the Reds and earn save No. 34 in 40 opportunities.
The win improved the Reds to 72-52 on the season. Since the St. Louis Cardinals also won Sunday, 9-0 against another team fighting for its post season life in the San Francisco Giants, Cincinnati’s lead in the NL Central remains at three and a half games.
Cincinnati travels to San Francisco to start a three game series with the Giants on Monday. Edison Volquez is scheduled to take the mound for the Reds against Matt Cain for the Giants.
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