Bronson Arroyo Builds Strength Heisey Homers

Veterans Barry Zito and Bronson Arroyo had the game under control but young Giants batters were hot at the end.

 Zito allowed a run while pitching 3 1-3 innings and Arroyo gave up one earned run in four in the San Francisco Giants' 9-5 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday.

Zito gave up five hits and struck out three for the Giants in an outing against the team the World Series champions rallied from a 2-0 deficit to beat in a best-of-five NL playoff series.

"My first and last inning my timing felt pretty good but the middle innings it was hit and miss.  I've got work to do," Zito said. "The extra week is good. It is better to get the fatigue up.

Bruce Bochy would like Zito to be a little more consistent.

"Zito was not quite as consistent with his command," Bochy said.  "He threw some great pitches but he missed pretty good on some pitches too but overall it was a pretty good outing for him."

 Reds right-hander Arroyo's throwing error on a bunt by former teammate Wilson Valdez allowed a run to score. Arroyo yielded four hits.

 "It is hard play to duplicate that in practice," Arroyo said.  "It's a play that you'll have maybe three times in a season. It is good to get it in now."

Arroyo won a Gold Glove in 2010.

"I've never seen Bronson throw the ball away like that," Dusty Baker said. "He's one of the best."

 Arroyo needed extra work after he left the game because of a low pitch count in his innings.  The 36-year old has pitched more than 200 innings in seven of the last eight seasons.

 "My innings went too quickly," Arroyo said.  "I only had 45 pitches through four innings. I had to go to the bullpen and throw 15 more. This spring is a week longer and that's good for pitchers.  We should get up to 100 pitches before we leave.  There's nothing worse than losing a game you should have won early in the season because you only got to 80 pitches once in spring training."

Chris Heisey, the Reds fourth outfielder and top pinch hitter, homered off Javier Lopez to tie the game at 3. It was his first of the spring.

 The young Giants hitters broke the game open with six runs in the top of the eighth against Reds' prospect Pedro Villarreal.

 Ricky Oropesa, the Giants third pick in the 2011 draft homered off Villarreal. Jaun Perez followed with his first home run of the spring. Johnny Monnel, a left-handed hitting catcher, hit two doubles.

"Overall our kids swung the bats good," Bochy said. "Johnny has been hitting the ball since he got here. You want these guys to draw some attention to themselves."

 The Reds' pitching was good until the end.

 "Everybody threw the ball well until the eighth," Baker said.  "Villarreal has been hit hard. It is hard to sit on your hands and watch but he has to get his work in. He is better than that.  He's a fine young man."

 Andres Torres left in the top of the third after being thrown out trying to stretch a double into a triple. Torres had flulike symptoms.

NOTES: 1B Brandon Belt has four home runs this spring, leading the Giants. He leads the Giants with a .417 average..Giants OF Francisco Peguero was 1-for-3. He is second on the team to Belt with a .408 batting average (minimum 20 at bats). Giants designated hitter, Johnny Monell, hit two doubles...Reds Billy Hamilton is out with a tight hamstring. Hamilton is a non-roster invitee. He stole a professional record 155 bases last season...Jay Bruce and Cesar Izturis threw out Andres Torres trying to stretch a double into a triple...Reds starting pitchers have not allowed a home run in 39 2/3 innings...




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