Re: Reds Harang?
PITTSBURGH PIRATES (19-27) AT CINCINNATI REDS (18-30), 7:10 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Pittsburgh - Paul Maholm (2-6, 5.82) Cincinnati - Aaron Harang (5-2, 4.78)
(Sports Network) - The Pittsburgh Pirates try and put the brakes on a five- game losing streak this evening, when they open a four-game set with the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park.
Pittsburgh continued to struggle on Thursday, as it dropped a 3-1 decision to the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Jose Bautista hit a solo homer in the loss for the Pirates, who were swept in the three-game set and have dropped seven of their last nine overall.
Tom Gorzelanny (5-3) was ripped for 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings, but allowed only two runs before leaving in the sixth with an injury to his left hand. The Pittsburgh bullpen held the Cards lineup hitless over 2 2/3 innings, but the Pirates' bats couldn't come through in the clutch to take the lead.
Pittsburgh managed just eight runs in the series and was 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position and two outs.
Hoping to stop the bleeding tonight will be left-hander Paul Maholm, who has lost his last two starts and four of his last five outings. Maholm's latest setback came on Sunday against Arizona, as he surrendered five runs (four earned) on eight hits in five innings to fall to 2-6, while raising his earned run average to 5.82.
Maholm has lost twice already this season to the Reds and is 2-3 lifetime against them with a 5.51 ERA in eight starts.
Cincinnati will counter with right-hander Aaron Harang, who is 5-2 with a 4.78 ERA. Harang, though, was tagged with the loss in his last start on Sunday against Cleveland, as he gave up five runs and nine hits in five innings.
Harang has defeated Pittsburgh both times he has faced them this season and is a marvelous 10-3 in his career against them with 4.50 ERA in 15 starts.
The Reds enter this series sliding as well after getting swept in a three-game set by the Washington Nationals, including a 4-3 setback in Thursday's series finale. Alex Gonzalez and Adam Dunn both homered for Cincinnati, which has dropped six of eight.
Matt Belisle (4-4) yielded four runs on 10 hits over seven frames in a losing effort.
Cincinnati has taken four of six from the Pirates this season and is 22-16 in the series since the start of the 2005 campaign. Pittsburgh has also struggled in the Queen City, where it has dropped 14 of its last 22 games.
The Sports Network