Arroyo, Keppinger save doubleheader split
Both star in the Reds' 7-1 victory at night after Cincinnati loses to the Mets 12-6 during the day.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
NEW YORK — The first game was old news, another game in which the Cincinnati Reds got their teeth, ears and belt buckles handed to them, a 12-6 sheleighlying by the New York Mets.
Another meek effort, another rip-roaring loss on the road, the Reds' fifth straight.
Extras
But because of a rainout Friday, May 9, they had to play another one Saturday night in Shea Stadium, and it was a Bronson Arroyo-Jeff Keppinger concerto duet in a 7-1 Reds victory.
The bruised and battered Arroyo turned the Mets into lambs, striking out the first three he faced and retiring the last 13 in a row — eight innings, one run, four hits, two walks, nine strikeouts. And Keppinger banged five perfectly placed hits — a career-best.
The 7-1 sounds like a pounding, but it was 2-1 for several innings before the Reds scored two in the eighth and three in the ninth.
"That's the best game Bronson has thrown," said Reds manager Dusty Baker. "He had 'em off-balance with great location on his fastball and he was dealing."
Keppinger scored two runs because first baseman Scott Hatteberg, batting behind him, had three hits and a sacrifice fly to drive in two runs.
"(Keppinger) works at it, he thinks about it, he concentrates, he focuses and he is trying to maximize his effort and opportunity to play," said Baker. "For a guy with that slight of build (6-foot, 180 pounds) to have that kind of night in the second game of a doubleheader after a long day and a long night shows what kind of shape he is in."
Keppinger's batting average is back in great shape after falling to .291. It is now a much healthier .317.
Asked the last time he had five hits, Keppinger said, "College (University of Georgia). I never got five in the minors, just a lot of four for fives. The fifth is hard to get.
"They put it on us pretty good the first game, so it felt good to return the favor," he said.
Arroyo was 1-4 with an 8.63 ERA when the night began. He was blown up in two of his last three starts, especially two starts ago against Houston when he was bludgeoned for eight runs and 10 hits in 3 2/3 innings. And in his last start in Atlanta he was mangled for seven runs and seven hits in 1 1/3 innings.
"I felt the same today as I have the last two starts," he said. "The tide has to turn at some point. At some point they have to pop balls in the air and hit balls on the ground."
Arroyo said, unlike other members of the team, that he welcomed Friday's rainout that necessitated the Saturday night makeup.
"I've been struggling all year, running up hill," he said. "To have the rainout helped me out because I don't enjoy day games (he was supposed to pitch Saturday's day game before it became a day-night doubleheader) and that really helped me out to pitch the night game."
In the afternoon session, the Reds pick-axed pitching icon Johan Santana for 10 hits in six innings, but were never in the game.
Reds starter Matt Belisle threw in his third clinker in four starts since coming off the disabled list — six runs (five earned), seven hits and three walks in a 94-pitch five innings.
He had at least one runner on base in all five innings.
Carlos Beltran drove in five runs with a single, sacrifice fly and a three-run triple. The other Carlos, Delgado, had three hits that included a home run.
Today's game
Who: Cincinnati Reds (Cueto 2-3) at New York Mets (Pérez 2-3)
When: 1:10 p.m.
TV: FSN Ohio
Radio: WLW-AM (700); WONE-AM (980)
