Reds Try To Avoid Home Sweep By Pirates
(Sports Network) - The Pittsburgh Pirates will shoot for their second sweep of the Cincinnati Reds this season when the two ballclubs close out a three-game series this afternoon at Great American Ball Park.The Pirates swept the Reds at home from April 11-13 earlier in the campaign and have won nine of the 14 matchups between the teams this year. They entered this series riding a 10-game losing streak, but opened the set with a 3-2 victory on Tuesday. In Wednesday's 6-5 victory over the Reds, Adam and Andy LaRoche both drove in runs during the eighth inning to lift the Pirates, who are unbeaten so far on a 10-game road trip. Adam LaRoche ended an 0-for-16 slump and finished with two RBI, while Ryan Doumit added a pair of RBI in the win. Tyler Yates recorded the final two outs in the seventh inning to get the win, while Matt Capps retired the side in order in the ninth for his 19th save. Pirates starter Ross Ohlendorf allowed four runs -- three earned -- on seven hits in six frames for the no-decision. Pittsburgh, which is headed for its 16th straight losing season, will hand the ball to struggling starter Tom Gorzelanny on Thursday afternoon. Gorzelanny has dropped three straight starts and is winless over his previous four trips to the mound. He last pitched on Friday versus Milwaukee and gave up three runs in seven innings of a 3-1 setback. The left-hander, who is 1-7 in nine road starts this year, last faced the Reds on May 2 and was roughed up in a 9-1 defeat. Gorzelanny allowed six runs and four hits in only two-thirds of an inning to fall to 2-2 with a 2.58 ERA in four career starts against Cincinnati. Cincinnati has dropped two in a row since sweeping the San Francisco Giants in three games over the weekend. In last night's loss, starter Edinson Volquez had a career-high 13 strikeouts over seven innings for the Reds and gave up six hits and four runs for a no-decision. Jeremy Affeldt was tagged with the loss for allowing two runs in relief. Chris Dickerson and Joey Votto both homered for Cincinnati, which is 3-2 on a nine-game homestand. Taking the ball for the Reds today will be Josh Fogg, who is 2-7 with a 7.29 earned run average in 21 games (13 starts) this season. Fogg has lost all five of his previous decisions, including an August 27 performance at Houston. The righty held the Astros to a pair of runs and six hits in six innings of his team's 4-1 loss. Fogg last faced Pittsburgh in a 5-2 setback on August 13 at PNC Park, surrendering four runs in 4 2/3 innings. He is 1-2 in four career appearances against the Pirates.
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