RetroSimba

(Updated May 12, 2018)

Since 2000, when he broke into the big leagues with the Pirates, until 2017, when he finished his pitching career with the Reds, Bronson Arroyo was a frequent foe of the Cardinals.

Arroyo, who flipped breaking pitches like Frisbees in an ocean breeze, has a regular-season career record of 8-18 with a 4.94 ERA in 42 appearances against the Cardinals. Most of those appearances occurred while he pitched for the Reds.

A look at some of Arroyo’s best and worst performances against the Cardinals:

Good for Arroyo

_ May 1, 2006: Arroyo pitched a complete-game four-hitter in a 6-1 Reds victory at Cincinnati. Juan Encarnacion’s home run prevented a shutout.

“He doesn’t have overpowering stuff, but he’s smart,” Cardinals outfielder John Rodriguez said to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “He knows where his pitches are going.”

Said Cardinals manager Tony La Russa: “He got a lot of outs in a lot of different parts of the (strike) zone. That’s good pitching.” Boxscore

_ June 12, 2008: Arroyo pitched six shutout innings and hit a home run against Joel Pineiro in a 6-2 Reds victory at Cincinnati. Arroyo departed after experiencing cramps in his right forearm.

“He didn’t leave pitches over the middle,” Cardinals outfielder Skip Schumaker said. “He was effective pitching to the small part of the plate.” Boxscore

_ May 16, 2010: Arroyo tossed a complete-game seven-hitter and knocked in two runs in a 7-2 Reds victory at Cincinnati. Cardinals outfielder Colby Rasmus described Arroyo’s assortment of pitches as “doo-doo” and “slop.”

Said Arroyo: “I could care less what adjective you put next to my pitch selection. The name of the game is to put a zero on the board as many times as I can.” Boxscore

Good for Cardinals

_ Aug. 10, 2006: Arroyo braided his hair into cornrows in an effort to change his luck, but the Cardinals weren’t impressed. Arroyo yielded home runs to Jim Edmonds, Chris Duncan and Scott Spiezio in the Cardinals’ 6-1 victory at Cincinnati.

“I’m at the end of my rope with superstitions,” Arroyo told the Dayton Daily News. “Either I’m going to bring a live chicken in here, or just go out and pitch.” Boxscore

_ June 6, 2007: In the seventh inning, with the Reds ahead, 4-3, Ryan Ludwick tied the score with a pinch-hit home run off Arroyo. With two outs, Albert Pujols followed with a two-run home run, lifting the Cardinals to a 6-4 triumph at St. Louis.

“All the runs they scored were on mistakes,” Arroyo said. “With Pujols, I tried to freeze him with a heater in, but it wandered over the middle of the plate.” Boxscore

_ Sept. 26, 2008: Arroyo gave up a career-high 13 hits in seven innings but escaped with a no-decision in the Cardinals’ 7-6 victory at St. Louis. Arroyo reached 200 innings pitched for the fourth consecutive season. Boxscore

_ July 5, 2009: The Cardinals pounded Arroyo for 11 hits and eight runs in five innings and won, 10-1, at Cincinnati. Said Reds manager Dusty Baker: “Bronson got kicked around pretty good. He was a sacrificial lamb because my bullpen was in bad shape.” Boxscore

Previously: Cardinals, Reds stage star-studded brawl in 1967