Arroyo pitches Reds to victory over Cubs

CHICAGO (Reuters) - The Cincinnati Reds ground out a 2-1 victory over the streaking Chicago Cubs on Wednesday, the visiting batters doing just enough to reward starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo's seven solid innings with a welcome win.

Arroyo threw 116 pitches and allowed just three hits in earning his 11th victory of the season, while David Weathers pitched a hitless eighth and Francisco Cordero struck out the side in the ninth for his 24th save of the season.

The right-hander tied a career-high with five walks but threw key pitches at just the right times.

"That was big man," Arroyo told reporters. "We've only won like six of the last (24). To be able to come in tomorrow and have a chance to take two-of-three is nice."

Left fielder Jolbert Cabrera's sacrifice-fly in the seventh broke a 1-1 tie and provided the winning run of a tight pitcher's duel in which both teams combined for just seven hits.

Ted Lilly (12-7) struck out seven and allowed both runs over seven innings for the Cubs, who came into the contest having won an impressive 17 of their last 21 ball games.

National-League leading Chicago (77-49) are difficult to beat at Wrigley Field and possess a 46-18 record, the second best in the major leagues.

"We are human. We cannot win every game," Cubs left fielder Alfonso Soriano said. "It's good sometimes to lose tough games because we can come back strong the next day."

Mark DeRosa gave the Cubs an early edge with an RBI single in the second and finished the game 2-for-4.

Jeff Keppinger grounded into a fielder's choice that scored a run in the sixth, tying things up for the Reds (56-71), who had not managed a hit against Lilly until the sixth.

(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by John O'Brien)