Bronson Arroyo pitched well — in a day game, no less — and Adam Dunn had a memorable game both offensively and defensively, leading the Reds to a winning series and road trip before they head home to face National League opposition.

Dunn may have a few bruises to remember this one by.  In addition to hitting a three-run homer, he was hit by the pitch twice, bowled over catcher Kelly Shoppach on a play at the plate, and collided with the left-field wall while making one of his two fine running catches.  Edwin Encarnacion, returning to the lineup after missing a couple of games with a bad back, also homered for the Reds.

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Johnny Cueto and the Reds bullpen (notably David Weathers, Jared Burton and Francisco Cordero) shut out the Cleveland Indians to win the vaunted “Ohio Cup”, for whatever that’s worth.  Adam Dunn hit a solo shot in the top of the first, but the big blow was a bases-loaded, bases-clearing double by Paul Bako in the fourth.  Brandon Phillips drove in the final run with a seventh-inning single.

Indians starter Paul Byrd absorbed his ninth loss of the season.

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After Grady Sizemore shut down a potential Reds uprising with a spectacular catch of an Adam Dunn bid for extra bases, C.C. Sabathia shut down the Reds without further incident.  Sizemore later homered and drove in three Tribal runs.  Daryl Thompson pitched well for the Reds, but got no help from the bullpen, the offense, or the defense.

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Edinson Volquez suffered through his first subpar outing of the year, giving up seven Blue Jay runs (five earned) in four and one-third innings, while Jesse Litsch stymied the Reds batters, giving up only one run in eight innings pitched.  Scott Rolen homered and drove in three runs for the Jays, while Brandon Phillips drove in the only Reds run with a sacrifice fly.

Jerry Hairston Jr. was activated before the game and led off for the Reds.  To make room on the roster for Hairston, Paul Janish was optioned to Louisville.

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Walks to Norris Hopper and Paul Janish, a sacrifice bunt by David Ross, and a sacrifice fly by Jay Bruce manufactured the winning run in the top of the tenth as the Reds bested the Blue Jays 6-5 in extra innings.  Jared Burton picked up his fourth win in relief, and Francisco Cordero notched his 15th save.

Ken Griffey Jr. hit a two-run homer in the top of the first off Jays starter Roy Halliday.  Reds starter Aaron Harang had one bad inning, giving up a pair of two-run shots to Adam Lind and Joe Inglett in the third.

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Bronson Arroyo gave up ten earned runs in one inning plus and took his seventh loss of the season, while A.J. Burnett pitched eight strong innings for the Blue Jays and cruised to his seventh victory of the year.

Scott Rolen, Gregg Zaun and Alex Rios homered for Toronto, and eight different Jays had multiple-hit nights.  Jay Bruce drove in the lone Reds run with a sacrifice fly.

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Johnny Cueto duelled Andy Pettite for five innings, but did not come back out after an hour-long rain delay, and the Yankees found the offerings of the Reds bullpen more to their liking, scoring three in the sixth off Gary Majewski and Jeremy Affeldt.  Jason Giambi was 3-for-3 with two RBI for the Yankees.  Ken Griffey Jr. hit a solo homer for the Reds’ only run.  Mariano Rivera pitched the final inning and a third to earn his 21st save of the year.

A bearded Jeff Keppinger, activated before the game, started the game at shortstop, but briefly moved to third when Edwin Encarnacion developed back spasms.  Andy Phillips was designated for assignment to make room on the roster for Keppinger.

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Daryl Thompson pitched five scoreless innings in his major-league debut, and Bill Bray picked up the win in relief as the Reds offense finally broke through against Yankee pitching in the seventh and eighth innings.  Edwin Encarnacion, Brandon Phillips, and Corey Patterson drove in two runs apiece, Patterson with the 100th home run of his career.

Thompson was activated before the game when Jolbert Cabrera went on the DL.

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Edinson Volquez had yet another quality start, giving up only two runs in seven innings pitched, and got his tenth win before the halfway point of the season.  Joey Votto had three hits including his twelfth homer of the year.  Jolbert Cabrera went four-for-four, avoided a tag at home plate with a brilliant slide, but severely dislocated a finger sliding headfirst into second and will be headed to the DL.

Daryl Thompson will be activated tomorrow to pitch the second game of the series.  We will have to wait and see if he will simply take Cabrera’s spot on the roster, or if other moves will be made.

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Aaron Harang had a subpar start, lasted only five innings and suffered his tenth loss of the season, while young Dodger lefty Eric Stults stymied the Reds hitters for six innings to earn his first win of the year.  James Loney went 3-for-4, while Matt Kemp hit his sixth home run and drove in three for the Dodgers.  Brandon Phillips and Norris Hopper had two hits each for the Reds.  The loss completed a 2-7 homestand for the Reds.

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