Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Reds (2-0)	0	1	0	3	0	0	0	5	0	9	13	0
Giants (0-2)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0

Boxscore

After Johnny Cueto went down and Mat Latos saved the bullpen–and the season–from ruin in game 1, Bronson Arroyo started game 2. And I, like many, was happy to have that rested bullpen ready in case Bad-royo showed up.

That concern was not necessary. Arroyo was perfect through 4 2/3, retiring the first 14 batters he faced. He was taken out after the 7th, thanks to a long inning by the Reds’ offense where they batted around. Without that, Arroyo likely would have pitched longer. As it was, in his 7 innings, he allowed no runs, 1 hit, walked 1, and struck out 4. One of the stats delivered on the television broadcast concerned his ability to mix pitch speeds, ranging from 68 to 90. It was an awesome performance, and quintessentially Arroyo.

The offense, such a concern before the playoffs started, has apparently found that switch and flipped it. Yesterday, Ryan Ludwick got things started with a solo home run in the 2nd.

After being held scoreless for an inning, the Reds extended their lead in the 4th. With Joey Votto and Ryan Ludwick on, Scott Rolen hit a single to drive in Votto. The next batter, Ryan Hanigan, continued the small-ball playing, and drove in Ludwick and Rolen with his own single.

The game stayed 4-0 until the 8th, when the Reds turned the game into a blowout. Votto and Chris Heisey both reached with singles. Jay Bruce hit a double to score them both. Then Hanigan came to bat and drove in Bruce. Drew Stubbs continued piling on with a triple that scored Hanigan. And Brandon Phillips drove in the inning’s 5th and final run with a double that easily scored Stubbs.

After that, the Reds held a 9-0 lead. The bullpen took over, with J. J. Hoover and Jose Arredondo completing the shutout of the Giants.

The Reds hold a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series. The two teams head to Cincinnati to play game 3 on Tuesday at 5:30pm. Homer Bailey is scheduled to start against Ryan Vogelsong.