Arroyo pitches Red Sox past hapless Reds

Bronson Arroyo gave the Red Sox their fourth straight strong performance by a starter and David Ortiz drove in three runs to lead Boston to a 6-1 victory and three-game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday night in Boston.

Boston took the series by a combined score of 23-4 and outhit Cincinnati 36-15.

Arroyo (5-3) was 0-3 in his last seven starts after going 9-0 in 17 starts dating to last season before that slump. On Wednesday, he struck out eight, walked two and gave up six hits in seven innings. In Boston's three previous games, starters Tim Wakefield, Matt Clement and David Wells gave up four runs and 11 hits in 22 innings.

Aaron Harang (4-5) trailed 1-0 through four innings before being knocked out in a four-run fifth, when Ortiz drove in two runs with his second double.

The Reds fell to 6-24 on the road.

BLUE JAYS 5, CARDINALS 2: At Toronto, Ted Lilly pitched seven scoreless innings and allowed just four singles to lead Toronto, which moved back to .500 by taking two of three from NL-Central-leading St. Louis.

Lilly (4-7), who had lost his previous three starts, lowered his ERA to 6.48. The 28-year-old left-hander struck out six and walked three for his first win since May 25 versus Boston.

Miguel Batista pitched the ninth for his 12th save in 13 chances.

Cardinals starter Jason Marquis (8-4) won his three previous starts, but he allowed five runs on eight hits in five innings against Toronto.

TIGERS 8, PADRES 2: At Detroit, Placido Polanco had three hits and three RBIs, and Detroit ended Adam Eaton's eight-game winning streak.

Eaton (9-2) lost for the first time since April 16, a span of 11 starts. He allowed six runs — three earned — on seven hits and two walks in 2 1/3 innings. Eaton had gone at least 4 2/3 innings in each of his 13 starts this season.

Mike Maroth (5-7) ended a five-start losing streak, giving up one run on six hits in eight innings. He struck out five and did not walk a batter.

ORIOLES 5, ASTROS 1: At Baltimore, Rodrigo Lopez pitched eight innings of four-hit ball, and Baltimore completed a three-game sweep of Houston.

Melvin Mora homered, Jay Gibbons had three hits and Brian Roberts went 2-for-3 with two RBIs for the Orioles, who outscored Houston 19-7 in their first interleague sweep since July 1999, against Montreal.