Nix from goat to hero in a day

CLEVELAND - Laynce Nix had three hits, including a tiebreaking double in the sixth inning, leading the Cincinnati Reds to a 7-4 win over the slumping Cleveland Indians on Friday night.

The Reds bounced back from a stunning defeat in Atlanta on Thursday when they failed to hold seven-run lead in the ninth inning and closer Francisco Cordero gave up a game-ending, pinch-hit grand slam to Brooks Conrad in a 10-9 loss. The homer deflected off Nix's glove as he reached over the top of the wall.

Shin-Soo Choo, moved from third to second in the batting order, homered twice, had three hits and three RBIs for the Indians, who have lost five straight and fell to a season-worst 10 games below .500.

Jonny Gomes and Brandon Phillips also homered for the Reds.

Bronson Arroyo (4-2) allowed four runs in 62/3 innings and won his third straight start. Cordero pitched the ninth for his 14th save in 17 chances.

Nix hit a leadoff homer in the third, doubled and scored in the fourth off starter Jake Westbrook, and doubled in the go-ahead run in the sixth off Aaron Laffey (0-1).

Gomes hit a two-run homer in the fourth that broke a 1-1 tie. Ryan Hanigan's double gave the Reds a 4-1 lead, but Arroyo couldn't hold it. Trevor Crowe drove in a run

Comment on "Nix from goat to hero in a day"