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StumbleuponArroyo recovers, baffles Indians
HAL MCCOY: Arroyo makes himself marketable again
COMMENT: Should the Reds trade Arroyo?
Sunday, June 29, 2008
CLEVELAND — If one didn't know better, one would suspect that Cincinnati Reds pitcher Bronson Arroyo has a body double.
How can the same guy face two last-place teams in back-to-back assignments and turn in two acutely opposite work sheets?
On Sunday, against the Cleveland Indians, the worst of the AL Central, The Very Good Arroyo gave up two runs (one earned) and five hits over six innings as the Reds swamped the Tribe, 9-5.
This came five days after pitching against the Toronto Blue Jays, the worst of the AL East, The Very Bad Arroyo gave up 10 runs and 11 hits in one inning and looked as if a baseball in his grasp was a hand grenade with a pulled pin.
But this just in. Arroyo believes he had better stuff and felt better when he pitched in Toronto than he did Sunday in Progressive Field.
"After the first inning, pitching coach Dick Pole said, 'Well, things must be turning for you because you hung two curveballs real bad,'" said Arroyo. "And I struck the guy out."
In fact, after giving up a single to Grady Sizemore, Arroyo struck out the side in the first inning.
"One of those days where I got away with a lot of stuff," said Arroyo. "I threw a lot more bad pitches today than I did in Toronto. I hung a lot of breaking balls, left a lot of balls up in the zone and they were popping them all up or fouling them off.
"That's why this game is so strange," he added. "Sometimes you feel great and hit your spots and you get killed. Some days you don't and it works out for you."
The Reds won five of six from the Indians this year, winning the not-so-coveted Ohio Cup — not to be confused with the Stanley Cup, the Ryder Cup, the Davis Cup or even a coffee cup.
For what it's worth, Adam Dunn's five home runs in the six games, including a three-run game-breaker Sunday, earned him the Ohio Cup Most Outstanding Player — and what does Toronto GM J.P. Ricciardi think of that?
And he solidified the award with defense Sunday — two startling catches after long runs and a peg to second base to wipe out Casey Blake trying to extend a single into a double.
Dunn was the designated hitter the first two games, but was back in left field Sunday. In addition to the two catches, the throw and the home run, Dunn had a collision at home plate with Tribe catcher Kelly Shoppach.
"It was one of those fun games, lot of things happening, lot of fun," said Dunn. "It seems like when you're really involved, a lot of balls hit to you, it's a lot of fun to run around out there and see what happens. It's a lot better to get the blood flowing rather than sit on the bench as a DH and pinch-hit four or five times."
What is more significant than a bogus, meaningless cup (two last place teams competing?) is that the Reds were 5-4 on this trip through New York (Yankees), Toronto and Cleveland, only their second winning trip in their last 22 missions on the road.
"It means a lot to me," said manager Dusty Baker. "It's been tough. When you get beat on the road, it doesn't leave a very good taste in your mouth. You're not hungry. You just want to chill. It feels good, actually. It feels great."
Edwin Encarnacion, back at third base after missing five games due to back spasms, cracked a two-run homer during a five-run fifth inning and later added a run-scoring single.
Both Dunn's and Encarnacion's home runs came with two outs.
"It was Adam Dunn Day," said Baker. "Big homer. Great defensive plays. Edwin looked good for a guy who has been out. I'm glad we waited an extra day to get him back in rather than letting him force us to put him back in too soon.
"We need Edwin's power and his bat in the lineup. We just need him," said Baker.
While the Reds took two of three from the Tribe, keep in mind the Indians are without outstanding starting pitchers Jake Westbrook and Fausto Carmona, plus catcher Victor Martinez, first baseman/designated hitter/first baseman Travis Hafner and infielder Josh Barfield, all on the disabled list.
Of course it was easier without Westbrook and Carmona and Dunn sort of acknowledged that. In the six games, he had the five home runs — and one other hit.
"When I'm going bad, I'm the worst," said Dunn. "Let's see if we can eliminate those really bad stretches that I tend to go through. I don't enjoy playing Cleveland because they have a real good pitching staff. It was just one of those things and I know my career numbers against them aren't very good."
Dunn paused and smiled and said, "Now, where's my trophy?"
