CINCINNATI - Bronson Arroyo got braids in his hair, hoping to end a long slump and a big series in style.

The new hairdo didn't do a thing.

Scott Spiezio hit the last of the Cardinals' three homers off Arroyo on Thursday, and St. Louis gained a soothing series split with a 6-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds that left the NL Central rivals right where they started.

The Cardinals held their ground while in town, leaving 3 1/2 games ahead of second-place Cincinnati.

“It's not the end of the world,” Arroyo said.

Rather, it was a snapshot of how things have gone for two teams that seem to be racing in reverse. Both have losing records over the last two weeks, unable to take advantage of the other's struggles.

After blowing a ninth-inning lead on Wednesday night, the Cardinals were encourage to leave with a four-game split.

“To come back after we got beat like that last night, that was impressive,” manager Tony La Russa said.

Jim Edmonds and Chris Duncan also homered off Arroyo (9-8), so frustrated by a seven-week slump that he got his shoulder-length hair braided into cornrows two days earlier to try to change his luck.

Instead, the All-Star pitcher matched his career high for homers allowed and remained winless since June 19. He's 0-5 in his last 10 starts with a 5.29 ERA, a stretch of futility that includes three blown saves by his bullpen.