Diamondbacks batter Arroyo

Pitcher leads the NL in allowing most home runs

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo walks off the mound after being replaced in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday, June 30, 2009, in Cincinnati.

Associated Press photo by Tony Tribble Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo walks off the mound after being replaced in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday, June 30, 2009, in Cincinnati.

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Arizona Diamondbacks’ Chris Young (left) is tagged out at home plate by Cincinnati Reds catcher Ramon Hernandez on a throw from Reds right fielder Jay Bruce in the second inning Tuesday, June 30, in Cincinnati.

Associated Press photo by Tony Tribble Arizona Diamondbacks’ Chris Young (left) is tagged out at home plate by Cincinnati Reds catcher Ramon Hernandez on a throw from Reds right fielder Jay Bruce in the second inning Tuesday, June 30, in Cincinnati.

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By Hal McCoy, Staff Writer Updated 2:07 AM Wednesday, July 1, 2009

CINCINNATI — The last place Arizona Diamondbacks slinked in to town under the cover of darkness carrying the burden of a five-game losing streak and losses in eight of their previous nine games.

For one night the D-Backs were able to pack up their troubles in an old kit bag and smile, smile, smile while facing the Cincinnati Reds and Bronson Arroyo.

The D-Backs scorched Arroyo for six runs and 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings while the Reds were a play thing for Diamondbacks pitcher Dan Haren during a 6-2 whip-lashing by Arizona.

The Reds didn't have a hit until a two-out single by Jay Bruce in the fifth inning and they finished with four hits off Haren in his seven innings.

For his career, before Tuesday, Haren was 1-2 with a 5.06 ERA against the Reds, but on this night the Reds were bird feed in his hands.

"Haren had his cutter working, his slider, his fastball, his sinker — he had everything working," said Reds manager Dusty Baker. "We didn't have much of a chance early because he was so sharp. And Bronson wasn't so sharp."

Arroyo has won only once in his last six starts and was done in Tuesday when he gave up three runs in the third after a throwing error by second baseman Brandon Phillips and three more in the sixth that included back-to-back home runs by No. 8 hitter Miguel Montero and pitcher Haren.

Arroyo has given up the most homers in the National League, 20 in his 98 innings.

"He wasn't sharp with his command," said Baker. "He hasn't been sharp as of late and Bronson goes through these periods. Hopefully, his next start will be better and he'll reel off a lot in a row like he is capable of doing and has been known to do."

Bronson was 4-1 early this season and 7-3, but is now 8-7, having lost four of his last five decisions.

Arizona's first two runs came on a broken-bat single by Mark Reynolds in the third and two more came in the sixth when Montero homered on a 0-and-2 changeup.

"It was a breaking ball in and he hurt me in Arizona on a breaking ball late in the game," said Arroyo of Reynolds' broke-bat single. "So I tried to get in better and he got it out there for a hit. That's the way the game is.

"So I gave up those three (in the third) and the way Haren was throwing I knew it was going to be tough to come back against him, regardless. He throws an 87 miles an hour cutter up there, something between a cutter and a slider, and when you throw 94 and 95 with a fastball it is easy to keep guys off balance," Arroyo added.

Of his plethora of homers, including the 0-2 to Montero, he said, "It was a bleepin' changeup right over the plate. I had good stuff, felt good. Just having a hard time getting into a groove, man."

Said Baker, "How many homers? Twenty? Woo. That 0-2 home run to Montero? He doesn't usually give up home runs like that."

And Heron's home run was the first of his career, prompting Baker to say, "His first homer? Wow. We've given up quite a few first career homers. Three or four, I'd say."

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