Boxscore

Perhaps “finally” isn’t the most accurate description, but it sure did feel like a long, arduous journey had been completed when Jonny Gomes hit the walk-off home run of Jason Motte to give the Cincinnati Reds their first victory of the young season.

That “finally” sure wasn’t helped by the fact that the Reds hadn’t lead in any game until the 5th inning of this, the 3rd one. And even that was short-lived when Matt Holliday homered to tie it in the 7th.

But Gomes and Bronson Arroyo were the heroes. In addition to pitching 8 innings of 1-run baseball, Arroyo drove in the Reds first run. And he recorded his 1,000th strikeout of his career, getting Albert Pujols, no less.

Brad Penny was the St. Louis Cardinals starter, and it was a pitcher’s duel between him and Arroyo. Penny lasted 7 innings and allowed 1 run.

After the starters left, it looked like it was going to be a battle of the bullpens. This time, unlike the first two games, the Reds prevailed.