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Cubs-Reds Preview

May 9, 2010 - 5:09 AM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Chicago (14-16) at Cincinnati (14-15), 1:10 p.m. EDT

It's been nearly a month since the Cincinnati Reds' Mike Leake made his historic debut at the Great American Ball Park against the Chicago Cubs.

Despite never playing in the minors, Leake has appeared to have few problems adjusting to the big leagues and will try to earn his third straight win when he faces the Cubs again at home Sunday.

On April 11, the 22-year-old Leake (2-0, 2.94 ERA) became the first Reds player and 21st overall since the draft began in 1965 to play his first professional game in the majors.

Leake, the eighth overall pick in the 2009 draft, didn't get a decision in a 3-1 win over Chicago after allowing one run and four hits over 6 2-3 innings. He struck out five but walked seven.

The right-hander had 12 walks and eight strikeouts in his first two starts, but he's walked four and struck out 14 in his last three. That's enabled him to record his first two wins, and a pair of errors helped deny him another victory Monday night against visiting New York.

Leake gave up one run following Drew Stubbs' misplay of a low line drive in center field and another after Orlando Cabrera dropped Ramon Hernandez's throw at second base on a steal attempt.

"Had it not been for that, he wouldn't have given up anything," manager Dusty Baker told the Reds' official website. "He kept us in the game ... He gave us everything we needed."

Of the 12 previous pitchers who have skipped the minors since 1965, only Burt Hooton won his first three decisions - his final two starts in 1971 for the Cubs and his debut the next season.

In his pursuit of that third straight win, Leake will face a Chicago team that won 14-7 in the series opener Friday but was routed 14-2 on Saturday night.

Reds catcher Ryan Hanigan drove in a career-high five runs Saturday, and Joey Votto continued his hot hitting with a two-run homer. Votto is 12 for 27 (.444) in seven games this month to raise his average to .318.

After batting .237 in its first 27 games, Cincinnati (15-15) had at least 13 hits in each of its past three. Jonny Gomes is 8 for 13 with six RBIs in that span.

Cincinnati will try to keep it going when it faces Ryan Dempster (2-2, 2.95).

The former Red has produced quality starts in all but one of his six outings but has been hurt by poor run support in back-to-back defeats.

Dempster has given up three runs in each of those two starts but has been handed a combined four runs. He allowed all of his runs on a pair of homers in a 3-2 loss in Pittsburgh on Tuesday night.

"It's a loss," Dempster told the Cubs' official website. "That's all that matters. I'm not really happy with this."

Dempster will try to help Chicago (14-17) avoid a second straight series loss to Cincinnati after taking the previous four. The Reds won two of three at home April 9-11.

Since coming to Chicago, Dempster is 2-1 with a 3.26 ERA in five starts against his former team, which released him following the 2003 season.