CRAFTY RIGHTY: Bronson Arroyo, using an array of off-speed pitches blanked the Giants for seven innings to lead the Reds to a 9-0 victory in Game 2 of the NLDS. (AP)
SAN FRANCISCO — Because Bronson Arroyo was practically untouchable last night, this National League Division Series is close to being out of reach of the Giants.
The Reds right-hander deployed his off-speed pitches to maximum effect, and the result was a seven-inning, one-hit masterpiece and a 9-0 triumph over the Giants at AT&T Park, as Cincinnati rolled to a 2-0 series lead.
The series moves to Cincinnati’s Great American Ballpark tomorrow for Game 3.
“These games are as big as any in my whole career,” Arroyo said. “To get through the fifth inning without having to pitch from the stretch but one time was really big.”
Giants batters flailed at slow curves, changes-ups and sliders offered up by Arroyo, who worked a perfect first 4 2/3 innings before San Francisco’s Brandon Belt finally reached base in the fifth on a single. When the Giants did connect, the majority of balls were routine infield ground outs or lazy fly balls.
“You hate to get beat like that, especially at home and it happened,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said.
Giants’ left-handed starter Madison Bumgarner had an off night and gave up seven hits and four runs in 4 1/3 innings.
For Arroyo, 35, his 12th career postseason appearance and fourth career playoff start was as good as it gets. He allowed only two base-runners in seven innings — Belt’s single and a walk to Buster Posey in the seventh. Arroyo threw 91 pitches, 57 of them strikes.
“Bronson has been around a long time and I think he is what you call ‘crafty,’ ’’ Cincinnati right fielder Jay Bruce said. “They [Arroyo and catcher Ryan Hanigan] did a great job keeping hitters off balance.”
Coming into the game Arroyo, who was 12-10 with a 3.74 ERA in the regular season, was 0-4 lifetime against the Giants at AT&T Park and he had a 3-5 career record against San Francisco. None of that seemed to matter last night, however, as Arroyo was in total control his entire outing.
“He [Arroyo] was great,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “He had his breaking ball working, his fastball, he located it well.”
After Bumgarner (16-11, 3.37) retired the Reds in order in the first inning, the trouble started for the Giants. Cincinnati took a 1-0 lead after a solo homer to center field by Ryan Ludwick on a 90-mph fastball on the first pitch of the second inning.
The Reds broke the game open with three runs in the fourth on a series of singles up the middle by Joey Votto, Ludwick, Scott Rolen for an RBI, and Hanigan for two RBIs.
Said Baker: “Once we got those early runs, he [Arroyo] seemed to get tougher.”
Armed with a 4-0 lead going into the middle innings, Arroyo continued his dominance against Giants hitters and as a result took the partisan San Francisco crowd out of the game.
While Arroyo made it through seven innings, Bumgarner — who was 1-2 with an 8.56 era in four previous outings against the Reds — was chased in the fifth after singles by Brandon Phillips and Votto.
“We were able to capitalize on one of his [Bumgarner’s] not-so-good-days today,” Reds center fielder Drew Stubbs said.
The Reds tacked on five more runs for good measure in an eighth inning highlighted by a two-run double by Bruce off Giants reliever Jose Mijares. Giants reliever Guillermo Mota also gave up a run-scoring triple to Stubbs and an RBI double to Phillips for a 9-0 Cincinnati lead and final score.
Tim Lincecum, who has been left out of the mix for starting pitcher assignments so far for the Giants in the NLDS, came in to pitch to start the sixth to the raucous approval of Giants fans. Lincecum, a two-time NL Cy Young winner and four-time NL All-Star, retired the side in order in the sixth and gave up a double but no runs in the seventh.
Bochy said Lincecum could be used in Games 3 and 4, if necessary.
The Reds outhit the Giants 13-2. Votto went 3-for-4 with three singles and two-runs scored and Hanigan drove in three runs on a 2-for-4 night.
“To get the bats going was huge,” Hanigan said. “We have been winning games on pitching and defense. It’s good to see the bats back.”
With the Giants starters struggling and their offense in traction, coming back in the series will require a quick change of course in a ballpark the Reds use to their advantage. Cincinnati tied for the best home record (50-31) in the National League with the Cardinals and Nationals.
“We know where we are at right now and our backs are to the wall,” Bochy said.
The status for the possible return of Reds ace Johnny Cueto, who left Game 1 after eight pitches with back spasms, is still undetermined according to Baker. Game 4 starters [if necessary] have not yet been named.