Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) – Scott Rolen went 3-for-4 with three runs batted in to back Bronson Arroyo’s solid performance on the mound, as the Cincinnati Reds rallied from an early two-run deficit to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks, 6-2, in the opener of a three-game series from Chase Field.
Paul Janish hit a solo homer and scored twice for the Reds, who have won four in a row and sit two games ahead of the Cardinals in the NL Central. St. Louis lost to the Brewers on Tuesday.
Arroyo (13-7) gave up two runs on six hits over 7 1/3 innings. The right- hander also struck out five and walked two.
Kelly Johnson hit a two-run homer for Arizona, which has lost four of five. Dan Hudson (3-1) went seven innings in the start, allowing three runs on nine hits to suffer his first loss as a member of the Diamondbacks.
The Diamondbacks took a 2-0 lead in the first. Chris Young led off with a double and crossed the plate on Johnson’s homer to right.
Cincinnati finally got to Hudson in the sixth. Laynce Nix, Joey Votto, and Rolen started the frame with three straight singles to score a run. The tying run came around to score when Jay Bruce grounded into a double play.
Janish put the Reds ahead, 3-2, with a solo homer to left in the seventh.
Arizona wasted a great opportunity to tie the contest in the eighth, which Johnson led off with a double. Justin Upton grounded out before Arthur Rhodes took over on the hill for Arroyo. Rhodes struck out Adam LaRoche and Miguel Montero to keep the Reds in front.
Cincinnati added three insurance runs in the top of the ninth. With the bases loaded and nobody out, D.J. Carrasco threw a wild pitch to plate a run. Votto was intentionally walked two batters later to load the bases again, and Rolen then hit a two-run single to make it 6-2.
Francisco Cordero pitched a perfect home ninth to seal the victory for the Reds.