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Astros-Reds Preview

May 29, 2010 - 3:55 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Houston (16-31) at Cincinnati (28-20), 7:10 p.m. EDT

Even without Joey Votto, the Cincinnati Reds have continued one of longest power surges in their history.

With Votto's status still uncertain, the surging Reds look to extend their home run streak to 18 games and continue their success against Brian Moehler and the Houston Astros on Saturday night.

Votto, second on the team with 10 homers and the club leader in RBIs (33) and hits (53) has missed the last three games with a sore neck. The Reds have gotten by just fine, batting around in four innings over their last two games, and extending their run of games with at least one homer to 17.

Cincinnati (29-20) tied the third-longest home run streak in franchise history in a 15-6 win over Houston (16-32) on Friday night, connecting three times in the opener of this three-game set. The 1956 Reds set the club record by homering in 21 straight games.

"The long balls are fun, but we're getting some great situational hitting, too, and doing things like going from first to third," said left fielder Jonny Gomes, who hit his seventh home run. "It's a lot more than just homers."

Drew Sutton hit his first career grand slam for Cincinnati and Brandon Phillips also went deep. The NL Central-leading Reds have 27 home runs during their streak.

Votto is 4 for 7 with a home run and two doubles against Moehler (0-1, 4.42 ERA), who will get the start for Houston in place of Bud Norris (elbow).

The veteran right-hander has had a tough time versus the Reds, going 2-5 with a 6.85 ERA and surrendering five homers in eight starts. He's 1-2 with an 8.27 ERA in four starts at Cincinnati.

Moehler went 8-12 with a 5.47 ERA in 29 starts for the Astros last season, but all 12 of his appearances this year have been out of the bullpen.

Even if Moehler pitches better against Cincinnati than he has in the past, manager Brad Mills doesn't expect to leave him in for many innings due to his conditioning.

"Right now, we hope he might give us three innings and if he feels good, maybe send him back out for the fourth," Mills said. "He's not stretched out. We're going to need some help behind him."

The Reds will give the ball to Aaron Harang (3-5, 5.98), who won his last start despite an ineffective performance, allowing five runs and eight hits in 6 1-3 innings of a 7-5 victory over Pittsburgh on Monday night. Harang did help his own cause, though, singling home the go-ahead run, then scoring another during a five-run fourth inning.

The right-hander is 10-9 with a 4.71 ERA in 23 starts versus the Astros.

Houston has lost eight straight games at Great American Ball Park. The Astros will seek to end that drought by building on a productive game at the plate after scoring three runs or fewer in 10 of their previous 13 overall.

Houston slugger Carlos Lee has struggled this season, but is 4 for 9 with three RBIs over his last two games. The three-time All-Star is batting .335 with 34 RBIs in 41 games at Cincinnati, three of which were played at the old Riverfront Stadium.