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Reds try to finish season at .500 mark

Oct 1, 2006 - 3:39 PM Cincinnati (80-81) at Pittsburgh (66-95) 1:35 pm EDT

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- With their playoff hopes dashed, the best the Cincinnati Reds can do this season is break even.

Matt Belisle makes just his second start of the season for the Reds, who will attempt to finish with a .500 record for the first time in six seasons when they close the campaign Sunday against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

After being eliminated from the National League Central race when the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers earlier Saturday, the Reds managed just six hits in a 3-0 loss to Pittsburgh.

Last posting an 81-81 mark in 1996, Cincinnati has seven more victories than a year ago.

Belisle (2-0, 4.24 ERA), who spent two separate stints on the disabled list this year, started for the first time on Tuesday after 28 relief appearances. He yielded one run and three hits in 3 2/3 innings against the Florida Marlins without factoring in the decision.

The Pirates will counter with Shane Youman (0-2, 4.30), who makes his third start and fifth career appearance. He worked two innings of relief Wednesday, allowing one hit in two scoreless frames.

Pittsburgh's Freddy Sanchez went 0-for-4 Saturday and is hitting .343 to lead Florida's Miguel Cabrera by .003 points for the NL batting title.

The Pirates snapped an eight-game losing streak Saturday and need a victory to match last season's record.