For more, check out our Reds blog, Red Reporter, and our Cardinals blog, Viva El Birdos.
Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - Bronson Arroyo tossed his 10th career complete game and helped his own cause with a two-run single, as the Cincinnati Reds moved atop the National League Central with a 7-2 win over St. Louis in the rubber match of a three-game series at Great American Ball Park.
Arroyo (3-2) allowed two runs on seven hits and three walks, while Scott Rolen paced the Cincinnati offense with a two-run homer and an RBI single,
Orlando Cabrera and Jonny Gomes both had two hits and knocked in a run for the Reds, who have won seven of their last eight games. Cincinnati is a half-game ahead of the second-place Cardinals in the division standings. The Reds hadn't been in first place this late in a season since June 8, 2006.
Jason LaRue hit a solo home run in the seventh inning for St. Louis, which has dropped nine of its last 12.
Brad Penny (3-4) gave up seven runs on 13 hits and struck out seven in five innings. Penny has lost his last four starts.
Rolen's seventh home run of the season -- a smash the opposite way to right field -- staked Cincinnati to a 2-0 lead in the first inning.
Three consecutive singles to the begin the third, the last one coming off the bat of Rolen, made it 3-0. Gomes lofted a sacrifice fly later in the frame.
St. Louis had the bases loaded with no outs in the fifth, but managed only one run when Tyler Greene grounded into a fielder's choice.
The Reds scored three runs in the bottom of the inning to widen their lead. After Penny intentionally walked Ryan Hanigan to load the bases, Arroyo delivered with a two-out base hit to right. Cabrera followed with a run- scoring single for a 7-1 game.
Arroyo is 3-0 in his last four starts...Cabrera has hit safely in nine straight games...Hanigan was the only member of Cincinnati's starting lineup not to register a hit...Brandon Phillips went 2-for-4 with a walk for the Reds.