s. Next time Sergio needs to stay home." After

PHOENIX -- Unsatisfied after a pair of losses, Johnny Cueto told his teammates he would pitch well against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Just get me two runs, he told them. The Reds did more than that. Not that he needed it. Cueto pitched effectively into the eighth inning and the Reds gave him some rare run support in a 5-0 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks Saturday night. "He backed his word," Reds catcher Brayan Pena said. "He said it was going to be a good one and we gave him much better run support today." The Reds have had trouble hitting with Cueto (5-4) on the mound this season, but followed Fridays big offensive night by scoring all five runs off Diamondbacks starter Brandon McCarthy (1-7) in consecutive innings. Billy Hamilton ignited Cincinnatis offence with two hits and two runs from the leadoff spot. Brandon Phillips had a pair of run-scoring singles off McCarthy and the Reds had 11 hits to win for the third time in four games. Cueto allowed five hits and struck out seven in 7 2-3 innings, and Jonathan Broxton escaped a bases-loaded jam in the eighth to preserve the Reds sixth shutout of the season. "Another excellent performance," Reds manager Bryan Price said of Cueto. "Certainly needed because were trying to put some wins together. Weve won some series, but we really havent run off a winning streak, which would really help us." Arizona struggled offensively, finishing with six hits, and McCarthy had his second straight shaky outing. That wasnt even the worst news of the night for the Diamondbacks. Not even close. Centre fielder A.J. Pollock, arguably Arizonas best player over the past month, broke his right hand while swinging at a pitch by Cueto in the eighth inning. Over the past 23 games, the 26-year-old hit .379 with 10 doubles, three homers, 10 RBIs and 16 runs scored, but now will be out an extended period of time. "That is a big blow," Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said. "He has been playing great, emerging. He has been huge for us. I dont know how else to say it." Cueto has been superb most of the season, leading the NL in batting average against at .148 with an ERA of 1.83, third-best in the league. He also allowed two earned runs or less in 10 of 11 starts before Saturday. The problem has been getting help from Cincinnatis offence. The Reds have scored an average of 2.8 runs per game when Cueto is on the mound, including one total run his previous two starts combined. Cincinnati did break out of its offensive doldrums a bit against the Diamondbacks on Friday night, beating up on former teammate Bronson Arroyo in a 6-4 win that included 11 hits and a grand slam by Devin Mesoraco. The Reds kept rolling against McCarthy, scoring three runs in the fourth inning on run-scoring singles by Phillips and Todd Frazier and Brayan Penas RBI double. Skip Schumaker added a run-scoring double in the fifth inning and Phillips chased McCarthy with an RBI double -- he was thrown out trying to stretch it to a triple -- that put the Reds up 5-0. McCarthy allowed five runs on nine hits in 4 1-3 innings, matching his totals in 6 2-3 innings against San Diego his previous start. "I am starting to give up runs again and that is kind of where its been," McCarthy said. "A few quality innings and then things turn and I dont have any understanding why." Cueto got off a shaky start, giving up a pair of one-out singles in the first inning, but wriggled out of it, stranding runners at second and third. The right-hander worked quickly and efficiently over the next six innings, twice stranding runners in scoring position. He was lifted with one out in the eighth after a walk and a hit batter. Arizona loaded the bases after Parra hit an infield single, but Broxton struck out Paul Goldschmidt and got Miguel Montero to fly out to end the threat. "He just answered the bell," Price said of Broxton. "He faced two of their most productive hitters and did a terrific job." NOTES: Hamilton stole second in the fifth inning to reach 20 for the season. ... Arizonas Gerado Parra went 2 for 3 against Cueto and is 6 for 15 with three doubles, two homers and three RBIs career against him. ... Arizona LHP Wade Miley, the starter in Sundays series finale, struck out a career-high 11 in his last start, but was not part of the decision on the 4-3 loss to the Padres. He will face Reds RHP Alfredo Simon, who failed to get out of the fourth inning against the Dodgers his last start. Germaine Pratt Jersey . - The Carolina Panthers believe Steve Smith lost "top-end" speed, a big reason the franchise parted ways with its all-time leading receiver. Andy Dalton Jersey .com) - DAngelo Harrison posted 21 points to guide No. http://www.bengalsrookiestore.com/Bengals-Anthony-Munoz-Jersey/ . 1 goaltender tonight when they conclude a four-game road trip versus the Winnipeg Jets. Germaine Pratt Bengals Jersey .com) - A chant of Zeke reverberated around AT&T Stadium before Ezekiel Elliott powered into the end zone for his fourth and final touchdown. Cincinnati Bengals Jerseys .com) - Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant combined for 51 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder took down the struggling Bucks 114-101 on Tuesday.DUNEDIN, Florida – Could it be? With the Blue Jays failure to land Ervin Santana and the continuing spring struggles, to varying degrees, of Esmil Rogers, Todd Redmond and J.A. Happ, Ricky Romeros name is being brought up on an increasing basis. Its getting lumped in with that large group competing for a job in the starting rotation. Manager John Gibbons was effusive about Romeros Wednesday performance, in which the former ace lefthander allowed one run over four innings of work. "All hes got to do is get it in the zone," said Gibbons. "That ball is moving every which way too. Its tough to square him up. If he gets in the zone, he makes them swing, you add that great changeup on top of that, thats where hes had his success. Where he ran into trouble he was just scattering it. He was walking guys, things like that. Hes getting in the zone now and thats the key." Baby steps, though. Romero did walk two batters and hit another. He was the beneficiary of a beautifully turned double play and of an outfield assist on a base hit by Jose Bautista, who threw out a runner at third. If Romero was to land the starting job, at this moment it seems remote, the Jays would likely begin the season with an eight-man bullpen. The fact Romero isnt on the 40-man roster works against him, performance over the last two seasons aside, but he is owed at least $15.6-million over the remaining term on his contract and the Jays would love to get some value for it. Romero has simplified his approach. "Like Ive told Kratz and Thole, the guys who have caught me the last two times, just set up down the middle and stuff will move," he said. "I feel like Im getting that movement back with the changeup and the sinker. There are going to be times when I come out of my delivery a little bit but I think the good thing now is that Im realizing when Im coming out of it. Its just slowing myself back down and my delivery is going to be key, just finding that rhythm." One noticeable difference from last season: when Romero talks about feeling good, feeling confident, his eyes and his body language emit the same. That hasnt been the case. "I definitely feel like its in the right direction and how can you not," said Romero. "Everything Ive been through, this feels good. Im not going to get ahead of myself or anything like that but its taking it day by day and working.dddddddddddd I think if I do that, just continue to work, work, and see the little wins each and every day and remain positive I think Im going to be just fine. The rest will take care of itself." Its a long road back to being the 15-game winner from 2011 and Romero may never regain his All-Star form. But hes trying. His manager hopes the crisis of confidence is a thing of the past. "Some guys never rebound from it," said manager John Gibbons. "What hes done here this spring, we noticed it, first started noticing it, just warming up in the bullpen, just throwing their sides and in BP, before we even started playing games, he looked different. Were all pulling for him here." McGowan feeling better Dustin McGowan threw two scoreless innings in Thursdays 7-5 loss to the Astros. It was his first game action in 10 days thanks to a stomach bug. It was the same illness that affected Sergio Santos earlier this month. "I lost eight (pounds,) exactly, too," said McGowan. "I think its the eight pound flu or whatever it was. Next time Sergio needs to stay home." After years of battling shoulder problems, McGowan made 25 appearances out of the bullpen last season, posting a 2.45 ERA while striking out, essentially, one hitter per inning pitched. Hes stretching out this spring, longing to be a starter once more. He felt no side effects from his sickness-induced layoff. "I felt good," said McGowan. "For me, thats the most important thing is feeling good. Pitches are starting to come around and location is starting to get better so its a positive outing today for me." McGowan seems to understand the unlikelihood that hell end up in the rotation, admitting "Its hard to say in my head Im going to be a starter but thats where I want to be." Still, hell continue to try to pitch deeper into games. "Ill keep going this path but if Im at four innings by the end of spring, if they want me in the bullpen thats easy to transfer right into," he said. "If you throw one or two, youre ready for it easily." Has he gained the eight pounds back he lost while sick? "You dont see this," joked McGowan, pointing to his stomach. "Ive got it." ' ' '