CINCINNATI -- With his high leg kick and below-the-radar breaking balls, Bronson Arroyo showed the Cubs a little old-style pitching. Who needs to throw 90 mph to beat the World Series champions?
The 40-year-old righty gave his best performance yet in his long comeback from elbow problems, pitching three-hit ball over six innings on Sunday, and the Cincinnati Reds salvaged a 7-5 victory . Arroyo worked fast, varied the angles of his deliveries, and kept `em guessing with his minimalist pitches.
"I'm happy for him, to see him back up," Chicago catcher Miguel Montero said. "He's a tough pitcher to face. Obviously he's throwing below hitting speed right now."
Arroyo (2-2) needed more than two years to recover from Tommy John surgery. The Reds gave him what amounted to a final chance this spring, and he's back to fooling `em with his unusual repertoire. Jon Jay saw pitches of 67, 74, 83, 75 and 70 mph during one at-bat.
"I don't want to say I had pinpoint control, but I was throwing the breaking ball down and out where it was almost impossible to hit," Arroyo said. "They knew where I was going, but I still had enough late movement to surprise them."
Arroyo allowed Anthony Rizzo's two-run homer -- his third of the series -- and struck out seven batters for the first time since May 13, 2014.
"This was the first time he looked like the Bronson of his first time through here," manager Bryan Price said, referring to Arroyo's 2006-13 stay in Cincinnati.
Raisesl Iglesias gave up a pair of runs in the ninth before finishing off the Reds' 3-7 homestand.
Patrick Kivlehan's bases-loaded double highlighted a four-run sixth inning off John Lackey (1-3) and decided a matchup of up-in-years starters. The 38-year-old Lackey and Arroyo have combined for 793 starts in the majors.
Despite the loss, the defending champs took two of three in the series and moved back into first place in the NL Central. No surprise that it happened in Cincinnati -- the Cubs have won 17 of their last 22 at Great American Ball Park. They've taken 20 of their last 25 overall against the Reds.
"I have nothing to complain about," manager Joe Maddon said.
Rizzo extended his hitting streak to 12 games -- matching his career high -- with his two-run homer in the fourth inning. His three-run shot with two outs in the ninth helped the Cubs rally for a 6-5, 11-inning victory in the series opener. He had another three-run homer during a 12-8 win on Saturday.
The Cubs have homered in their last 15 games at Great American. They hit seven in all during the series.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Cubs: Ben Zobrist started at second base and batted cleanup. He'd missed the last two games because of tightness in his back. Zobrist singled and doubled in four at-bats.
Reds: SS Zack Cozart was a late scratch from the lineup because of a sore left wrist. Kivlehan, who wasn't in the original lineup, made his first start at shortstop and hit his first double in the majors.
REDS MOVE
RH Ariel Hernandez was recalled from Double-A Pensacola and RH Lisalverto Bonilla was optioned to Triple-A Louisville, giving the Reds a fresh arm in the bullpen.
HOMER STREAKS
Rizzo also homered in three consecutive games last April 20-22, the last two of them at Great American Ball Park. In 2015, he homered in four straight games from July 29-Aug. 1.
LACKEY'S LAST TWO
Lackey allowed seven runs -- five earned -- in six innings, throwing 104 pitches. A pair of errors set up Cincinnati's decisive four-run sixth.
"I felt I definitely pitched better than the numbers are going to show," Lackey said. "I didn't give up a whole lot of hard contact. What are you going to do?"
Lackey has given up 11 runs -- nine earned -- in his last two starts.
"Any little mistake is getting hit and hit hard," Montero said.
UP NEXT
Cubs: LH Brett Anderson (1-0) allowed six runs in only 3 2/3 innings in his last start, a 9-7 Cubs win against Milwaukee. He'll face Chad Kuhl (1-1) as the Cubs open a series in Pittsburgh.
Reds: LH Amir Garrett (2-1) makes his first start in Milwaukee, facing Matt Garza (0-0). The rookie stuck out a career-high 12 Orioles in seven innings during a 2-0 loss to Baltimore on Wednesday.
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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
Chicago Cubs
The 40-year-old righty gave his best performance yet in his long comeback from elbow problems, pitching three-hit ball over six innings on Sunday, and the Cincinnati Reds salvaged a 7-5 victory . Arroyo worked fast, varied the angles of his deliveries, and kept `em guessing with his minimalist pitches.
"I'm happy for him, to see him back up," Chicago catcher Miguel Montero said. "He's a tough pitcher to face. Obviously he's throwing below hitting speed right now."
Arroyo (2-2) needed more than two years to recover from Tommy John surgery. The Reds gave him what amounted to a final chance this spring, and he's back to fooling `em with his unusual repertoire. Jon Jay saw pitches of 67, 74, 83, 75 and 70 mph during one at-bat.
"I don't want to say I had pinpoint control, but I was throwing the breaking ball down and out where it was almost impossible to hit," Arroyo said. "They knew where I was going, but I still had enough late movement to surprise them."
Arroyo allowed Anthony Rizzo's two-run homer -- his third of the series -- and struck out seven batters for the first time since May 13, 2014.
"This was the first time he looked like the Bronson of his first time through here," manager Bryan Price said, referring to Arroyo's 2006-13 stay in Cincinnati.
Raisesl Iglesias gave up a pair of runs in the ninth before finishing off the Reds' 3-7 homestand.
Patrick Kivlehan's bases-loaded double highlighted a four-run sixth inning off John Lackey (1-3) and decided a matchup of up-in-years starters. The 38-year-old Lackey and Arroyo have combined for 793 starts in the majors.
Despite the loss, the defending champs took two of three in the series and moved back into first place in the NL Central. No surprise that it happened in Cincinnati -- the Cubs have won 17 of their last 22 at Great American Ball Park. They've taken 20 of their last 25 overall against the Reds.
"I have nothing to complain about," manager Joe Maddon said.
Rizzo extended his hitting streak to 12 games -- matching his career high -- with his two-run homer in the fourth inning. His three-run shot with two outs in the ninth helped the Cubs rally for a 6-5, 11-inning victory in the series opener. He had another three-run homer during a 12-8 win on Saturday.
The Cubs have homered in their last 15 games at Great American. They hit seven in all during the series.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Cubs: Ben Zobrist started at second base and batted cleanup. He'd missed the last two games because of tightness in his back. Zobrist singled and doubled in four at-bats.
Reds: SS Zack Cozart was a late scratch from the lineup because of a sore left wrist. Kivlehan, who wasn't in the original lineup, made his first start at shortstop and hit his first double in the majors.
REDS MOVE
RH Ariel Hernandez was recalled from Double-A Pensacola and RH Lisalverto Bonilla was optioned to Triple-A Louisville, giving the Reds a fresh arm in the bullpen.
HOMER STREAKS
Rizzo also homered in three consecutive games last April 20-22, the last two of them at Great American Ball Park. In 2015, he homered in four straight games from July 29-Aug. 1.
LACKEY'S LAST TWO
Lackey allowed seven runs -- five earned -- in six innings, throwing 104 pitches. A pair of errors set up Cincinnati's decisive four-run sixth.
"I felt I definitely pitched better than the numbers are going to show," Lackey said. "I didn't give up a whole lot of hard contact. What are you going to do?"
Lackey has given up 11 runs -- nine earned -- in his last two starts.
"Any little mistake is getting hit and hit hard," Montero said.
UP NEXT
Cubs: LH Brett Anderson (1-0) allowed six runs in only 3 2/3 innings in his last start, a 9-7 Cubs win against Milwaukee. He'll face Chad Kuhl (1-1) as the Cubs open a series in Pittsburgh.
Reds: LH Amir Garrett (2-1) makes his first start in Milwaukee, facing Matt Garza (0-0). The rookie stuck out a career-high 12 Orioles in seven innings during a 2-0 loss to Baltimore on Wednesday.
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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Chicago - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Bronson Arroyo pitching for Cincinnati | CHC | CIN |
| Schwarber flied out to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Bryant flied out to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Rizzo grounded out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| John Lackey pitching for Chicago | CHC | CIN |
| Hamilton singled to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Hamilton stole second. | 0 | 0 |
| Hamilton stole third. | 0 | 0 |
| Peraza lined out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Votto hit sacrifice fly to center, Hamilton scored. | 0 | 1 |
| Suárez grounded out to second. | 0 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Bronson Arroyo pitching for Cincinnati | CHC | CIN |
| Zobrist struck out swinging. | 0 | 1 |
| Russell flied out to center. | 0 | 1 |
| Heyward grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| John Lackey pitching for Chicago | CHC | CIN |
| Gennett grounded out to first. | 0 | 1 |
| Kivlehan struck out looking. | 0 | 1 |
| Schebler homered to right center (421 feet). | 0 | 2 |
| Barnhart struck out swinging. | 0 | 2 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Bronson Arroyo pitching for Cincinnati | CHC | CIN |
| Montero flied out to center. | 0 | 2 |
| Lackey grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 2 |
| Jay grounded out to first. | 0 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| John Lackey pitching for Chicago | CHC | CIN |
| Arroyo bunt grounded out to third. | 0 | 2 |
| Hamilton struck out swinging. | 0 | 2 |
| Peraza struck out swinging. | 0 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Bronson Arroyo pitching for Cincinnati | CHC | CIN |
| Schwarber lined out to center. | 0 | 2 |
| Bryant singled to left. | 0 | 2 |
| Rizzo homered to right (390 feet), Bryant scored. | 2 | 2 |
| Zobrist flied out to right. | 2 | 2 |
| Russell struck out looking. | 2 | 2 |
| 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| John Lackey pitching for Chicago | CHC | CIN |
| Votto struck out swinging. | 2 | 2 |
| Suárez doubled to deep center. | 2 | 2 |
| Gennett struck out swinging. | 2 | 2 |
| Kivlehan walked. | 2 | 2 |
| Schebler singled to center, Suárez scored, Kivlehan to third. | 2 | 3 |
| Barnhart struck out swinging. | 2 | 3 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Bronson Arroyo pitching for Cincinnati | CHC | CIN |
| Heyward struck out swinging. | 2 | 3 |
| Montero struck out swinging. | 2 | 3 |
| Lackey struck out swinging. | 2 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| John Lackey pitching for Chicago | CHC | CIN |
| Arroyo lined out to shortstop. | 2 | 3 |
| Hamilton grounded out to pitcher. | 2 | 3 |
| Peraza lined out to right. | 2 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Bronson Arroyo pitching for Cincinnati | CHC | CIN |
| Jay singled to right. | 2 | 3 |
| Schwarber struck out swinging. | 2 | 3 |
| Bryant struck out swinging. | 2 | 3 |
| Rizzo grounded out to first. | 2 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| John Lackey pitching for Chicago | CHC | CIN |
| Votto safe at first on error by first baseman Rizzo. | 2 | 3 |
| Suárez walked, Votto to second. | 2 | 3 |
| Gennett reached on bunt single to third, Votto to third, Suárez to second. | 2 | 3 |
| Kivlehan doubled to deep left center, Votto, Suárez and Gennett scored. | 2 | 6 |
| Schebler popped out to third. | 2 | 6 |
| Barnhart grounded out to second, Kivlehan to third. | 2 | 6 |
| Ervin hit for Arroyo. | 2 | 6 |
| Ervin safe at second on throwing error by third baseman Bryant, Kivlehan scored. | 2 | 7 |
| Hamilton grounded out to second. | 2 | 7 |
| 4 Runs, 2 Hits, 2 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Blake Wood pitching for Cincinnati | CHC | CIN |
| Wood relieved Arroyo. | 2 | 7 |
| Zobrist singled to right. | 2 | 7 |
| Russell singled to center, Zobrist to third. | 2 | 7 |
| Peralta relieved Wood. | 2 | 7 |
| Heyward grounded into fielder's choice to second, Zobrist scored, Russell out at second. | 3 | 7 |
| Montero singled to right center, Heyward to second. | 3 | 7 |
| Almora Jr. hit for Lackey. | 3 | 7 |
| Almora Jr. struck out swinging. | 3 | 7 |
| Jay struck out looking. | 3 | 7 |
| 1 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Mike Montgomery pitching for Chicago | CHC | CIN |
| Montgomery relieved Lackey. | 3 | 7 |
| Peraza grounded out to shortstop. | 3 | 7 |
| Votto lined out to third. | 3 | 7 |
| Suárez walked. | 3 | 7 |
| Gennett grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Suárez out at second. | 3 | 7 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Wandy Peralta pitching for Cincinnati | CHC | CIN |
| Schwarber grounded out to pitcher. | 3 | 7 |
| Iglesias relieved Peralta. | 3 | 7 |
| Bryant struck out looking. | 3 | 7 |
| Rizzo grounded out to shortstop. | 3 | 7 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Mike Montgomery pitching for Chicago | CHC | CIN |
| Kivlehan flied out to right. | 3 | 7 |
| Schebler grounded out to second. | 3 | 7 |
| Barnhart struck out swinging. | 3 | 7 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Raisel Iglesias pitching for Cincinnati | CHC | CIN |
| Zobrist doubled to right. | 3 | 7 |
| Russell singled to right, Zobrist scored. | 4 | 7 |
| Russell safe at third on throwing error by pitcher Iglesias. | 4 | 7 |
| Heyward singled to right, Russell scored. | 5 | 7 |
| Montero grounded into double play, pitcher to shortstop to first, Heyward out at second. | 5 | 7 |
| Contreras hit for Montgomery. | 5 | 7 |
| Contreras flied out to left. | 5 | 7 |
| 2 Runs, 3 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
Chicago Cubs
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schwarber LF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 15 | .221 | .361 | .412 |
| Bryant 3B | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 12 | .230 | .326 | .392 |
| Rizzo 1B | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 11 | .296 | .412 | .535 |
| Zobrist 2B | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14 | .212 | .339 | .346 |
| Russell SS | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 12 | .257 | .316 | .443 |
| Heyward RF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 17 | .297 | .348 | .422 |
| Montero C | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 | .333 | .360 | .458 |
| Lackey P | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | .286 | .286 | .286 |
a-Almora Jr. PH
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | .281 | .361 | .438 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | |
b-Contreras PH
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .269 | .321 | .462 |
| Jay CF | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 15 | .333 | .419 | .407 |
| Totals | 35 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 119 | |||
| a-struck out swinging for J Lackey in the 7th b-flied out to left for M Montgomery in the 9th | ||||||||||
| BATTING 2B: Zobrist (1, Iglesias) HR: Rizzo (4, 4th inning off Arroyo 1 on, 1 Out) RBI: Rizzo 2 (11), Heyward 2 (12), Russell (13) GIDP: Montero Cubs RISP: 2-5 (Jay 0-1, Almora Jr. 0-1, Heyward 1-2, Russell 1-1) Team LOB: 3 | ||||||||||
| FIELDING E: Rizzo (2, ground ball); Bryant (2, throw) | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH |
| Attendance | 32,670 (77.2% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 2:26 |
| Weather | 60 degrees, partly cloudy |
| Wind | 11 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Doug Eddings, First Base - Cory Blaser, Second Base - Jeff Nelson, Third Base - Laz Diaz |
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