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Pirates-Reds Preview

Jul 31, 2015 - 8:44 PM The Pittsburgh Pirates continue to have difficulty with the Cincinnati Reds, and the team they'll face Friday night won't look as different as some thought.

The Reds stayed quiet on trade deadline day ahead of their attempt at a ninth win in 11 games against the Pirates, who made a notable move of their own Thursday.

After winning five of six, Pittsburgh (59-42) was dominated in a 15-5 loss Thursday. It was the sixth loss in a row at Cincinnati for the Pirates, who have surrendered an average of 5.6 runs while going 2-8 in the season series.

Brandon Phillips became the first major leaguer with four hits, two homers, seven RBIs (a career high) and two stolen bases in a game since the RBI became an official statistic in 1920.

Pittsburgh's bullpen gave up seven runs and has a 5.97 ERA over the past 12 games but added a new piece Thursday, acquiring closer Joakim Soria from Detroit. He'll move into a setup role while Mark Melancon remains the closer.

The Pirates also acquired left-hander J.A. Happ from Seattle for a minor league pitcher and outfielder Michael Morse from the Los Angeles Dodgers for Jose Tabata prior to Friday's deadline.

The Reds shipped Mike Leake to San Francisco for two prospects late Thursday, but held on to closer Aroldis Chapman and outfielders Marlon Byrd and Jay Bruce.

Cincinnati (46-54) will pursue a season high-tying fourth consecutive victory and try to extend its longest home win streak over the Pirates since a seven-game run from 1996-97.

The Reds will likely need a much improved performance from Michael Lorenzen (3-5, 4.58 ERA) than in a 17-7 loss in Colorado on Sunday. The right-hander was charged with a career-worst eight runs in 2 1-3 innings in his third consecutive defeat.

Lorenzen's first major league win came in his only start against the Pirates, yielding one run and three hits in six innings of a 7-1 victory May 5.

Jeff Locke (5-6, 4.15) is 0-2 with a 5.18 ERA in his last five starts versus the Reds, and he's allowed eight runs and 16 hits in 11 innings against them this year.

The left-hander has one victory in his last six outings. Locke had a 2.15 ERA in the first five games in that stretch, then gave up four runs in the fourth of his five innings last Friday against Washington. He did not get a decision in a 7-5 victory.

Joey Votto is 6 for 17 with two doubles against Locke and is batting .568 with a 1.570 OPS in his last 13 games after going 3 for 4 on Thursday. Votto is 7 for 18 in his last four games against Pittsburgh.

Billy Hamilton, batting .333 in his last 10 games, is 6 for 13 lifetime versus Locke, and Todd Frazier is 9 for 20 with two homers. Frazier, 3 for 27 in his last seven games, is expected to return after getting the night off Thursday.

Pittsburgh's Aramis Ramirez has a home run and a double in four at-bats against Lorenzen. Starling Marte, batting .444 in a nine-game hit streak, has homered in two at-bats versus the right-hander.