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Cubs-Reds Preview

Aug 5, 2009 - 4:36 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Chicago (56-48) at Cincinnati (45-60), 7:10 p.m. EDT

Rich Harden has pitched well over the last two weeks. He's also usually done so when he faces the Cincinnati Reds.

The right-hander looks to post a third straight victory overall and remain perfect against Cincinnati as the Chicago Cubs try for their first series sweep at Great American Ballpark on Wednesday night.

Chicago (57-48) won 6-3 on Tuesday to take the first two of this three-game set and improve to an NL-best 14-5 since the All-Star break.

While the Cubs are tied with St. Louis for the NL Central lead, the Reds (45-61) have dropped eight straight and are looking to avoid their longest losing streak since an 11-game skid June 14-24, 1998.

The Cubs, who have won six in a row over the Reds, are 28-25 at Great American Ballpark since it opened in 2003 and haven't swept a series in Cincinnati since May 28-30, 2001, at Riverfront Stadium.

With Harden (7-6, 4.50 ERA) on the mound, Chicago is in good position to complete the sweep and post its 11th win in 14 games.

Harden is 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA in his last four starts, and he is 4-1 with a 2.19 ERA in eight road games this season. He matched a career high with 11 strikeouts as he allowed two runs in five innings Friday, but didn't get a decision in a 5-2 loss at Florida.

"I need to throw something to get some early contact and early outs," Harden told the Cubs' official Web site of his desire to go deeper into games.

Though Harden has never pitched at Great American Ballpark, he's 4-0 with a 2.59 ERA in four career outings against Cincinnati. Harden, 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA versus the Reds this season, beat them at Wrigley Field on July 26 by allowing one run and striking out eight in six innings of a 5-2 win.

Chicago, 3-2 on a 10-game road trip, is hoping Kosuke Fukudome and Derrek Lee can keep up their production.

Fukudome hit his first career leadoff homer Tuesday and is batting .337 (25 for 74) in 20 games in the leadoff spot. Lee has two homers, two doubles and six RBIs in his last four contests.

In each player's last five games against Cincinnati, Fukudome has gone 7 for 20 (.350) with four RBIs while Lee has two homers and seven RBIs.

Wladimir Balentien hit a two-run homer and Willy Taveras snapped an 0-for-18 slump with two hits Tuesday for the Reds, who are averaging 2.6 runs during their eight-game skid.

Justin Lehr (0-0, 5.40) makes his second start since being recalled from Triple-A Louisville last week.

The right-hander, who hadn't pitched in the majors since 2006, allowed three runs and four hits while walking a career-high six in five innings of a 5-3 loss to Colorado on Friday. It was his first career start after 66 relief appearances.

"I know when I do feel comfortable, I'm going to eliminate a lot of my wasted pitches," Lehr told the Reds' official Web site.

Lehr has a 6.00 ERA in three career innings of relief versus Chicago.