Laynce Nix hit a grand slam off John Smoltz,
Bronson Arroyo pitched into the ninth inning and the Cincinnati
Reds beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-1 on Wednesday night.
Arroyo allowed one run and four hits in 8 1-3 innings, falling
just short of his fourth complete game of the season. The
right-hander improved to 7-5 with a 2.07 ERA in his last 16 starts,
tying his career high with his 15th victory of the season.
St. Louis has lost three straight since clinching the NL Central
title with a 6-3 win Saturday at Colorado and has dropped five of
six overall. Smoltz (1-3), hoping to earn a spot in the Cardinals'
postseason rotation, gave up six runs and six hits with five walks
and three strikeouts in four innings.
Cincinnati scored twice in the second and four in the third as
Smoltz struggled with his control. The gametime temperature was 59
degrees, and the right-hander seemed to have trouble gripping the
ball. He tossed several out of play even before trying to pitch
with them.
Smoltz threw 43 of his 87 pitches in the second and issued three
of his five walks, including one to Drew Stubbs with the bases
loaded that gave Cincinnati a 2-0 lead. Two more walks sandwiched
around Scott Rolen's double loaded the bases before Nix's first
career grand slam and 15th homer of the season.
Smoltz, who signed with St. Louis as a free agent on Aug. 19, is
0-3 in six starts since winning at San Diego in his Cardinals debut
on Aug. 23.
