DaytonDailyNews.com

TORONTO — Any thoughts the Cincinnati Reds entertained about trading pitcher Bronson Arroyo probably evaporated under a base-hit barrage and a run-scoring onslaught by the last-place Toronto Blue Jays.

Arroyo didn't even get to see the Canadian sunset over the open roof of Rogers Centre on Tuesday, June 24, before being removed from competition, such that it was.

The Blue Jays not only hammered the Reds, they used an electric nailer en route to a 14-1 win.

Arroyo gave up six runs in the first and four in the second, recording only three outs in the shortest stint of his career.

"I probably could have told them what was coming and fared better," said Arroyo after his record fell to 4-7 and his ERA climbed to 6.52. "One of them days, y'know?"

Yep, grammatically, mentally and physically one of them days.

The absurd pitching line: One inning, 11 hits, 10 runs, three home runs, one walk, one strikeout, one not-so-enchanted evening.

"You know it's a bad night when during the first two hours of a game you are on defense for an hour and 45 minutes," said manager Dusty Baker.

One thing in the Reds' favor? There were no scouts in attendance, but this fiasco probably will be all over "SportsCenter."

Maybe Toronto General Manager J.P. Ricciardi meant to talk about Arroyo when he ripped Adam Dunn on his radio show last week.

"No matter what he threw, he couldn't get 'em out," Baker said. "A lot of balls in the center part of the plate and it is hard to get guys out in the heart of the plate. It was almost as if they knew what was coming."

Arroyo's fastball barely touched 88 miles an hour, mostly 87 and under, and when Gregg Zaun, a Cincinnati resident, homered in the first, it was the 100th off Reds pitching this year. Only Houston, with 109, has given up more in the majors.

Baker said it wasn't velocity, it was location, location, location — most of the pitches locating themselves in front of outfielders, in between outfielders and over outfielders.

"Arroyo said, 'No matter what I threw, I couldn't get 'em out,'" said Baker, issuing one of the season's greatest understatements. "He wasn't wild he was just over the center of the plate."

The 22 hits are the most given up by the Reds this season and they came from a team that had lost seven of its last eight, mostly because it is near the bottom in all American League offensive categories.

And the Reds managed four hits in eight innings off A.J. Burnett, who had given up eight runs in two of his last three starts.

As if it matters, the Reds scored their one run in the second on a single by Brandon Phillips, a stolen base, a walk and Jay Bruce's sacrifice fly.

Meanwhile, Toronto leadoff hitter Marco Scutaro had as many hits (four) as the entire Reds' lineup, while Alex Rios and Lyle Overbay had three each.

Toronto's home runs were hit by Scott Rolen, a three-run rip in the first, Zaun (two-run blast in the first) and Rios (solo shot in the second).

Arroyo was mystified.

"I felt good, I just couldn't get anybody out," Arroyo said. "You face 15 batters and 11 get hits and you walk one, well, they hit balls in, out, up and away. Everywhere. Can I forget this? I forgot it seven innings ago, bro."

The Reds were off Monday and now play 12 straight days, so it wasn't lucrative to have Toronto break into the bullpen so early. Gary Majewski pitched three innings for the first time this year, tying the most innings in an outing in his career.

"You hate this to happen, but it is about the third time we've had a tough go on the first day after an off day with none coming up soon, stretching your bullpen out right away," said Baker, who also used Jeremy Affeldt, David Weathers and Bill Bray.

Of Burnett, 6-7 with a 5.72 ERA when the night began, Baker said, "A.J. is a quality pitcher and he threw the ball well. But they gave him plenty of breathing room early so he can relax and throw what he wants to throw. Six in the first. Five in the second. Tough to beat."

As Baker has said in the recent past, the Reds seem to make everybody look like Cy Young, "And everybody ain't Cy Young."