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Cubs-Reds Preview

Aug 3, 2009 - 2:23 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Chicago (55-47) at Cincinnati (45-58), 7:10 p.m. EDT

The Chicago Cubs have gotten off to an uninspiring start to August with blown saves by their closer in each of the first two games.

Things could be worse, though. Just ask the Cincinnati Reds.

The Cubs try to bounce back after a frustrating loss Monday night when they open a three-game series against the stumbling Reds, who try to avoid their 13th loss in 14 games.

Chicago (55-48) was on the verge of taking two of three from Florida and moving one-half game ahead of St. Louis atop the NL Central on Sunday, but Kevin Gregg was unable to close out the Marlins for a second straight night.

On Saturday, Gregg had an 8-5 lead with two outs in the ninth before allowing Florida to send the game to extra innings. Derrek Lee's 10th-inning solo homer led the Cubs a 9-8 victory and saved them from an ugly loss.

Chicago was unable to bail out its struggling closer on Sunday, however.

Gregg had a 2-1 lead with one out in the ninth before serving up solo homers to Dan Uggla and Cody Ross on successive pitches in a stunning 3-2 loss.

"It wasn't pretty," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "The thing finished quick."

While it was a disappointing end to the series, Chicago has a chance to get things turned around in Cincinnati.

The Cubs outscored the Reds 18-10 in sweeping a three-game series at Wrigley Field last weekend, one of three sweeps suffered by Cincinnati in the last two weeks.

The Reds (45-59) have lost six straight, 12 of 13 and are a major league-worst 6-21 since July 3 to drop from two games out of first to tied for last with Pittsburgh.

"We're finding ways to lose all the time," pitcher Bronson Arroyo said after a 6-4, 11-inning loss to Colorado on Sunday. "It keeps snowballing. We get a lead, and we give it up. We fall behind, and we can't come back. We're definitely sliding downhill. It's got to stop at some point."

While the Reds haven't won since beating San Diego 6-4 last Monday, it has been considerably longer since Aaron Harang's last victory.

Harang (5-12, 4.50 ERA) leads the majors in losses and is 0-8 with a 5.56 ERA in 12 starts since beating Houston on May 25. It's the longest losing streak of his career and the longest by a Reds pitcher since Danny Graves lost eight straight decisions in 2003.

On Wednesday, Harang was tagged for seven runs, nine hits and four walks in seven innings of a 7-1 loss to San Diego.

"We've tried all kinds of stuff," said Harang, who has a 7.43 ERA in losing his last four starts. "I really don't know. It's one of those things."

Against the Cubs on July 24, the right-hander gave up four runs and nine hits in six innings in an 8-5 loss.

Chicago counters with Randy Wells (7-4, 2.84), who opposed Harang and the Reds at Wrigley in last weekend's series.

Wells, who has victories in seven of his last eight outings, is coming off the best start of his brief career, yielding six hits in eight innings of a 12-0 win over Houston on Wednesday.

"I'm just trying to stay even-keel and continue this little ride I'm on," Wells said. "I'm scared of getting comfortable, scared of getting overconfident and having the wheels fall off."

Before shutting down the Astros, Wells gave up three runs and seven hits in six innings to beat the Reds. All of the runs came on a second-inning homer by Harang.

Chicago's offense should receive a boost Monday with Aramis Ramirez expected back in the lineup after missing Sunday's game (left forearm). Ramirez is 12 for 24 with two home runs and eight RBIs in six games against the Reds this season.