Arroyo Mows Down the Astros in Record Time

Bronson Arroyo pitched like he had a guitar playing gig after the game.

He used just 92 pitches to throw a complete game in just 2 hours and eight minutes.

The Reds beat the Astros 6-1. The only batter he walked was the game's leadoff hitter, Michael Bourn. Bourn stole second base, advanced to third when Miguel Tejada ground out. He scored on a foul ball out down the leftfield line by Red killer Lance Berkman.

He scattered four singles and a double the rest of the way.

"I think I completed a game in under 100 pitches one other time," Arroyo said. "I was getting a lot of ground balls with my sinker. They were swinging a lot early in the count which helped out."

Arroyo found a way to get two guys out that have haunted him in the past, Berkman and Carlos Lee.

Berkman was 0-for-3 and Lee 0-for-4. Berkman started the game with a .317 average and five home runs in 41 at bats against Arroyo. Lee started the contest with a .355 average against the fair haired, hurler.

"I pitched them a little differently. It's a chess match with them. Tonight it worked out pretty well," Arroyo said.

Arroyo improved to 7-3 on the season and has won three of his last four starts. He has a decision in each of his 10 starts which is a modern marvel, and a rare occurence in major league baseball these days.

"That's really weird," Arroyo said.

The quick game gave Dusty Baker's bullpen a rest.

"Bronson made it look easy. He had it going on," Baker said. "I wanted to give the bullpen a rest and Bronson gave it to us. Everybody (in the bullpen) was in pretty good shape tonight. At least they said they were but I didn't think they were. We have the day off tomorrow, then we go into Milwaukee with a lot at stake."

The Reds trail the Cardinals by a game and a half. They meet in St. Louis Monday to start a four-game set. They trail Milwaukee by half a game and could come out ahead of the Brewers by winning the series.

They are six games over .500 for the second time this season.