Reds beat Tribe in series opener

CINCINNATI (AP) — Bronson Arroyo pitched eight innings Friday night, and slumping Adam Rosales doubled home the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth, leading the Cincinnati Reds to a 3-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians in the renewal of their annual intrastate series.

Arroyo (6-3) gave up five hits and was helped by three double plays. Grady Sizemore had two of the hits off Arroyo, including a homer in the first inning.

Jonny Gomes, called up from the minors before the game, doubled on the first pitch he got from left-hander Aaron Laffey (3-1) as a pinch hitter leading off the eighth. One out later, Rosales doubled to snap the 1-all tie and his 0-for-14 slump, smacking his hands together seven times when he reached second base.

Francisco Cordero pitched the ninth for his 11th save in as many chances.

The Indians’ pitching staff took two more hits in the game.

Starter Anthony Reyes had the wildest performance of his career, walking a career-high six batters and hitting another during only three innings. He then left with an inflamed pitching elbow. The Reds’ lackluster offense managed only one run off Reyes, on Brandon Phillips’ sacrifice fly.

After Rosales’ tiebreaking double in the eighth, Laffey appeared to pull a muscle on the next pitch. He put his hand on his side momentarily, then left the game. He was relieved by Greg Aquino, who gave up an RBI single to Alex Gonzalez on his first pitch.

The Ohio Cup — a trophy topped by a silver bowl — was displayed on a table along the first baseline before the game. The Reds took last year’s intrastate series 4-1 and got to hold onto the keepsake.

The series matching teams from opposite ends of the state was a big hit when it started in 1997, back when thousands of Cleveland fans would make the four-hour drive down Interstate 71 to watch the Indians play.

Lately, it has lost some luster. The Indians came to town Friday with the worst winning percentage in the American League at 16-26. The Reds have had eight straight losing seasons. The series opener, along with postgame fireworks, drew 28,019.

Sizemore got it started with a solo homer in the first. The center fielder was dropped to second in the batting order this week because of his slump — he came in batting .213 — and was only 3 for 24 in his last seven games.

Notes

The Indians lead the interleague series 30-27. ... Cleveland went 6-12 in interleague play last season and is 108-104 overall since it began in 1997. ... Reyes threw 59 pitches, only 23 of them strikes. ... Reds 1B Joey Votto was available to pinch-hit. He has been sidelined since Saturday with an inner-ear infection.