Cincinnati’s Arroyo is too tough for Pirates

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

Bronson Arroyo limited Pittsburgh to one run over seven-plus innings, Scott Rolen and Laynce Nix doubled in runs and the Cincinnati Reds held off the Pirates to win 2-1 on Monday night.

Arroyo (2-2), trying for his fourth career shutout, had permitted only three singles until Ronny Cedeno led off the eighth by homering down the left-field line, his third of the season.

Manager Dusty Baker lifted Arroyo after Delwyn Young followed with a pinch-hit single, and reliever Arthur Rhodes got the next three outs.

Arroyo couldn’t have been much sharper until the eighth, retiring the side in order four times while not permitting a runner past second base until Cedeno homered. The right-hander struck out two and walked one, throwing 72 of 103 pitches for strikes. He lasted at least six innings for the sixth time in seven starts.

Francisco Cordero pitched the ninth for his 11th save in 13 opportunities, stranding the potential tying run at third by getting Cedeno to ground into a force play. The Reds won for the 10th time in 14 games.

Cincinnati scored what proved to be the winning run after Pirates third baseman Andy LaRoche couldn’t make a backhanded stop of Joey Votto’s grounder in the eighth, his fourth error in four games and third in two games. Rolen doubled into the right-center gap off Evan Meek to make it 2-0.

Pirates right-hander Ross Ohlendorf (0-1) pitched four innings in his second start of the season.