After spending six innings flailing at
pitches out of the strike zone Friday, the
Reds started watching them go by. Six walks
later -- as well as three two-out hits, an
error and a run-scoring passed ball --
Cincinnati had a nine-run seventh inning
during a 12-0 rout.
"We just started
laying off," the Reds' Brandon Phillips said
of Cubs starter Ryan Dempster. "He did a
great job early. We just caught up to him."
Dempster (6-7) had allowed only two hits,
including Phillips' solo homer, while
striking out seven through six dominant
innings. He then opened the seventh by
walking Jonny Gomes and Jay Bruce. Ramon
Hernandez grounded to Mike Fontenot but the
second baseman dropped the ball for an
error, and after Drew Stubbs struck out,
Bronson Arroyo walked on four pitches to
score a run.
Brian Schlitter relieved and walked
Phillips to make it 3-0. One out later,
Hernandez scored on Koyie Hill's passed
ball. Joey Votto walked to load the bases
again, Scott Rolen singled home two runs and
Gomes doubled in two more. Bruce walked and
Bob Howry gave up Hernandez's double for a
10-0 lead.
When Stubbs flied out to end the inning,
many in the crowd of 40,361 cheered
derisively.
"That shows how fast an inning can get
away," Dempster said. "I throw four pitches
in a row to the pitcher that don't hit the
strike zone ... and the doors fall off."
It was Cincinnati's biggest inning in
five years and the most runs in an inning
against the Cubs in four seasons. Gomes and
Bruce became the first Reds to score two
runs in an inning since 2004.
While the Reds have used a 9-2 surge to
move 11 games over .500 for the first time
since June 9, 2006, Chicago has fallen to
34-46 and 11½ games behind division-leading
Cincinnati.
The Cubs have lost 10 of their last 14
games, five by shutout, and are 10-20 since
May 30. The team with the league's highest
payroll has scored six runs while going 1-4
on its homestand.
"Two hits again. You're not going to win
too many games with two hits," Cubs manager
Lou Piniella said. "Look, we lost, what,
12-nothing? It could have been 2-nothing or
3-nothing, but it's still nothing."
Arroyo (8-4) allowed two hits and two
walks, striking out three, in six sharp
innings. Dusty Baker planned to send him out
for another inning but the Reds batted for
such a long time that the manager turned to
Logan Ondrusek, who retired six straight.
Micah Owings struck out the side in the
ninth to wrap up the Reds' fifth shutout
this year and fifth consecutive road
victory.
"My changeup was good today. I got a lot
of groundballs when I needed them," Arroyo
said. "Luckily, we got a chance to break it
open and give me kind of a rest."
The right-hander has progressed nicely
this season, following a 6.37 ERA in April
with marks of 3.89 in May and 3.60 in June
before pitching superbly in his first July
outing.
