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Reds-Pirates Preview

Aug 20, 2009 - 9:33 PM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Cincinnati (50-69) at Pittsburgh (49-70), 7:05 p.m. EDT

With a rare three-game sweep, the Pittsburgh Pirates look ready to climb out of the NL Central cellar - something they'll have ample opportunity to do over the next six weeks.

The Pirates have 13 games remaining against the fifth-place Cincinnati Reds, who they'll meet for the first time since early May on Friday night at PNC Park.

Pittsburgh (49-70) began trading away veterans July 22, dealing Adam LaRoche to Boston and then moving Freddy Sanchez and Jack Wilson among others in the days before the July 31 trade deadline.

That made the Pirates losing 17 of 20 from July 25-Aug. 15 hardly a surprise. Pittsburgh was outscored 38-4 during the final four games of a road trip before heading home Sunday.

Awaiting its return was Milwaukee, which had beaten Pittsburgh in 18 of 20 meetings. Yet, the Pirates had no problem with the Brewers, completing their first sweep since the first three days of June with a 3-1 win Wednesday.

"It feels so exciting," shortstop Ronny Cedeno, who hit a two-run homer, told the team's official Web site. "... I think the way we've played the last three games hard, we have put everything together."

Pittsburgh is 1 1/2 games behind the Reds (51-69) in the Central, and can use this series to jump into fifth place by itself for the first time since June 19. The teams meet 10 more times after this weekend.

The Reds lead the season series 3-2, shutting out Pittsburgh in all three victories.

Cincinnati salvaged the finale of a seven-game homestand with a 2-1, 10-inning victory over San Francisco on Thursday.

The Reds had lost five straight - getting shut out twice - before rookie Drew Stubbs hit a walk-off homer in his second major league game to beat the Giants.

"I saw it hooking, and I was saying, 'Please, stay fair,"' manager Dusty Baker said. "You don't know how bad we needed it, and we got it."

Cincinnati has scored in double digits once since May 13, but scheduled Pirates starter Charlie Morton (2-6, 5.51 ERA) gave up 10 runs while recording only three outs in his last start.

Morton allowed four runs in the first inning Friday at Chicago, then was charged with six in the second without retiring a batter before exiting a 17-2 loss.

"I know it probably sounds weird, but it's one of those things where you really have to shake it off and look forward to getting back on the mound," said Morton, who has never faced the Reds. "The most important thing is just being able to get back out there."

Morton may not have to worry about facing second baseman Brandon Phillips, who left Thursday's game in the third inning with a sore left wrist. Phillips was hit by a pitch on that wrist last Saturday.

Johnny Cueto was set to start Friday for Cincinnati, but was placed on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation. Micah Owings (6-11, 5.35) will instead make his first start since departing after three innings with right shoulder tightness in a 5-2 loss to the Cubs on July 26.

Owings is 1-2 with a 6.86 ERA in four starts against the Pirates.