Reds recover for 7-6 win over Marlins in 10 innings

[May 15, 2008]  CINCINNATI (AP) -- The Cincinnati Reds blew a six-run lead in the ninth, but Paul Janish singled home the tiebreaking run in only his second big-league at-bat for a 7-6, 10-inning victory over the Florida Marlins on Wednesday night.

Renyel Pinto (1-2) walked two with two outs before Janish, who arrived from the minors earlier in the day, singled to right field to end it, raising his right fist in triumph. Jared Burton (2-1) pitched a perfect 10th for the win.

The Reds matched their season high with their third straight win, all against a Marlins team that came to town on its best run of the season.

The Marlins arrived with a seven-game winning streak and the best record in the major leagues. By dropping the first three games of the series, they equaled their longest losing streak of the season.

The Reds went into the ninth with a 6-0 lead and a distinction: The only team in the majors without a blown save.

Seven batters later, the lead and the distinction were gone.

Luis Gonzalez broke the shutout with an RBI double off Mike Lincoln, who left with the bases loaded and no outs. Closer Francisco Cordero, who had been a perfect 7-for-7 in save chances, came on and gave up a two-run single to Matt Treanor.

One out later, Cody Ross hit a three-run homer to left field, raising his fist as he rounded first base. It was the first homer allowed this season by Cordero, and the second in two games by Ross.

The meltdown ruined another solid performance by Reds starter Bronson Arroyo, who threw seven shutout innings on short rest.

The Reds pulled ahead 6-0 behind Jerry Hairston Jr., who is now Cincinnati's main shortstop with Jeff Keppinger sidelined by a broken kneecap. Hairston had a single, double and RBI triple.

Adam Dunn also homered, and Ken Griffey Jr. had a run-scoring double.

Center fielder Corey Patterson threw out runners at home and third base, helping Arroyo get in position for a win the old-fashioned way -- with only three days between starts. Arroyo gave up five hits in seven shutout innings, throwing 111 pitches. He left after striking out the side in the seventh.

Arroyo volunteered to work on short rest so the club could get its rotation back in order following a weekend doubleheader. In three previous starts on short rest, Arroyo was 1-0 with a 3.05 ERA, including a three-hit shutout against San Francisco in 2006.

Notes: Only 12,756 fans bought tickets. ... Ross batted leadoff for the fourth time this season. ... Gonzalez extended his hitting streak to seven games. ... Keppinger is expected to be out 4-to-6 weeks. Janish made his big-league debut in the field in the eighth, then flied out in his first at-bat before his game-winning hit. ... The organist played "Happy Birthday" to Tony Perez, who turned 66. Perez played for the Big Red Machine -- his No. 24 is retired -- and was in town as a Marlins special assistant.

[Associated Press; By JOE KAY]

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