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Astros-Reds Preview

Sep 16, 2009 - 4:19 AM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Houston (70-74) at Cincinnati (65-79), 7:10 p.m. EDT

The Cincinnati Reds have a losing record at Great American Ball Park this season, but they've played well in their home park recently.

The Houston Astros don't need any reminders.

The Reds have won six straight overall at home and six in a row there against the Astros, streaks they'll look to extend as they try to complete a three-game sweep Wednesday night.

Cincinnati (66-79) fell out of the NL Central race with 14 losses in 15 games from July 20-Aug. 4, a brutal stretch that concluded with eight consecutive losses at home along the Ohio River.

The Reds had lost 15 of 19 at Great American Ball Park overall before sweeping four games from Pittsburgh from Aug. 31-Sept. 2, and after a 4-6 road trip, they're looking good again so far to start their seven-game homestand. Cincinnati came from behind to win 3-1 Monday and did it again Tuesday, getting a tiebreaking RBI from Paul Janish in the seventh inning - his third double of the game - en route to a 5-4 victory.

Janish had been in a 2-for-32 slump before manager Dusty Baker gave him a day off Saturday in Chicago. He's 6 for 13 since.

"(The slump) was on my mind, but it's not something you worry about," said Janish, a Houston native who's hitting .538 against the Astros this season. "I was kind of in a funk, and (the day off) helped mentally. I just want to keep playing every day and finish strong."

Janish is hitting .350 during the Reds' six-game home winning streak, but the two most productive members of the Reds' offense have been Brandon Phillips and Drew Stubbs. Phillips is hitting .476 with three homers and seven RBIs, and Stubbs is batting .360 and hit his fourth homer in that stretch Tuesday.

No Cincinnati hitters have faced Yorman Bazardo (0-1, 9.00 ERA), who will try to help the Astros (70-75) avoid their longest losing streak to the Reds since they dropped 11 straight from May 22-Sept. 4, 1995. The four-year veteran was awful in the latest of his two starts this season, allowing eight runs over two innings in a 14-7 loss at Arizona on Aug. 28.

"I have to make adjustments with my fastball - be aggressive in the zone - and I'll be good the next time," Bazardo told the Astros' official Web site. "... I just couldn't throw strikes. I had no command on any of my pitches. Not on my fastball, not on my slider. Not on my changeup. That meant big trouble."

Bazardo will be opposed by Justin Lehr (4-2, 4.93), who's coming off another uneven road performance. The right-hander gave up five runs and five hits over 4 2-3 innings Friday in a 6-4 loss to the Cubs.

"I have good enough stuff to definitely pitch better," said Lehr, who's 2-2 with a 6.56 ERA in four road starts. "I left some stuff up in the zone, gave up three runs on two-out hits ... and two of my walks scored. It doesn't put you in a situation to win."

Lehr, who has a 4.50 ERA in four career relief appearances against Houston, is 2-0 with a 3.46 ERA at home.