BRONSON ARROYO PITCHED EIGHT SOLID INNINGS WHILE JONNY GOMES PROVIDED THE CLOSURE

4.9.10
BY:MEH
FIRST WIN A WALK-OFF, GOMES STYLE
BRONSON ARROYO PITCHED EIGHT SOLID INNINGS WHILE JONNY GOMES PROVIDED THE CLOSURE


(Bott.Photo: CNATI)
The Reds avoided a three game sweep, and a 0-3 start to the season, by defeating the Cardinals 2-1 on Thursday. After five straight fastballs were thrown to Jonny Gomes in the bottom of the ninth inning by Jason Motte, Gomes wasn't about to allow another go by. With a 2-2 count and the score knotted at one, Gomes crushed the next fastball from Motte 392 feet into left field at Great American Ballpark. Gomes was 1-8 at the plate this season before his game winning homerun. Gomes commented on the momentum he helped create:

"How many times have we failed in that situation? That makes it so much more fun. It's more fun for us. There's so much more to it, whether it's the first series of the year or last series of the year, that's a (divisional) game and we've got to win as many of those as possible. We've got the Cubs coming in and it's good to get on the board that's it, whether it's a quality start or a hit, anything. Just getting that zero off the board, regardless of the category, it's always big in the beginning of the year. Here we are, we've got some good momentum with the Cubs coming in. Once we leave these doors, we clean the slate and come back tomorrow."

Before Gomes stole the show in the ninth inning, Bronson Arroyo had a distinguished outing. Arroyo went eight innings allowing only one run on four hits while striking out six. Arroyo struck out Albert Pujols in the fourth inning recording 1,000 for his career. During the fifth inning Arroyo singled, driving in Ryan Hanigan, providing the Reds with their only run until Gomes' homer in the ninth. Taking a Colby Rasmus line drive to his right calf during the game, Arroyo expressed lingering pain after the game:

"Not real good. I’ve been hit a lot harder but not in this spot. It’s killing me. It got me in the belly of the calf. It’s got my foot locked up. It’s like a charley horse cramp. As sore as it now, Day 2 and 3 are the hardest on the body. I’m interested to see how it feels. I’ll do a lot of work to try to get out it."

Bronson Arroyo has never missed a start in the majors, minors, high school, or even in little league. If his calf continues to bother him, it could open the door for Travis Wood or Aroldis Chapman. Jonny Gomes articulated his respect for Arroyo:

"A solo home run doesn’t win that game without Bronson Arroyo pitching the way he did. We can talk about his stuff all day and we can talk about his toughness. Taking that ball off the calf and staying in there. Those guys ran together a bunch of hits and a bunch of offense the first two games. Bronson sitting back and being the pro he is pitched a great game."

The Reds begin their second series of the season on Friday at Great American Ballpark. Homer Bailey will face Carlos Silva and the Chicago Cubs at 7:10pm. The Cubs are 1-2 so far this season.

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-First win of the season REDS REPORT

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