Nix hits first career grand slam, Arroyo gets another win as Reds beat Cardinals 6-1

Nix, Arroyo lead Reds to 6-1 win over Cardinals

CINCINNATI — 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.

Arroyo (15-13) retired his first nine batters before Skip Schumaker led off the fourth with a sinking liner to left that just got under the glove of the diving Nix. After Mark DeRosa struck out, Albert Pujols lined an RBI single into center field.

NOTES: Arroyo also had 15 wins last season for the Reds. … Cincinnati activated OF Chris Dickerson from the 15-day disabled list before the game. Dickerson had been on the DL since Aug. 25 with a severely sprained left ankle. … RHP Justin Lehr will start for Cincinnati on Friday against Pittsburgh instead of LHP Matt Maloney, who needs more time to get completely over a blister on his left middle finger.