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Reds-Nationals Preview

Jun 3, 2010 - 11:42 PM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Cincinnati (31-23) at Washington (26-28), 7:05 p.m. EDT

While the Cincinnati Reds would prefer to be in sole possession of first place in the NL Central, they're satisfied with their spot in the standings. The slumping Washington Nationals wish they were as content.

The Reds continue their road trip Friday when they open a three-game series against the error-plagued Nationals.

Despite dropping two of three to St. Louis, including Wednesday's 4-1 loss, Cincinnati (31-23) left Busch Stadium in a first-place tie with the Cardinals.

"We certainly wanted two out of three or all of them," Reds manager Dusty Baker told the team's official website. "We have to be satisfied getting out of here with one the way things turned out."

It didn't turn out well for Cincinnati the last time it was in first place this late in the season. After winning eight straight to improve to 36-24 on June 8, 2006, the Reds lost 20 of 29 and eventually finished third.

If Cincinnati can continue hitting the ball at its current pace, however, the club has a chance at its first winning season in a decade and first playoff appearance in 15 years. The Reds are among the NL leaders in batting (.275), runs per game (5.1) and homers (70).

"Guys have been swinging the bats like crazy," said right-hander Aaron Harang. "It makes it easier for the starters. It helps us relax."

In Saturday's 12-2 victory over Houston, Harang (4-5, 5.48 ERA) yielded a season-low one run and four hits over seven innings. The Reds backed him with a season-best six homers - two apiece from Jay Bruce and Ramon Hernandez.

Looking to win three consecutive starts for the first time since Sept. 19-29, 2006, Harang faces a Nationals team that's won one series in the last three weeks.

Since trailing Philadelphia for the NL East lead by one game May 13, Washington (26-29) has dropped 14 of 20. While manager Jim Riggleman said following Wednesday's 6-4 loss at Houston that errors can be misleading, the team's NL-worst 50 are hard to ignore.

The Nationals committed three errors for the second straight game Wednesday, all by Cristian Guzman. Playing right field as a defensive replacement, Guzman botched a sinking line drive from Lance Berkman that would have ended the game. Two pitches later, Carlos Lee hit a walk-off two-run homer against Matt Capps.

"It's just the nature of how things are going for us ... but we'll get out of it," Riggleman said following the Nationals' 3-7 trip.

Right-hander Livan Hernandez (4-3, 2.15) will try to help Washington get back on track as he goes for his first win in exactly a month. Since opening 4-1 with a 0.99 ERA, Hernandez is 0-2 with a 3.52 ERA.

He is 0-5 with a 6.51 ERA in his last nine outings versus Cincinnati.

Nationals first baseman Adam Dunn, who played for Cincinnati from 2001-08, is batting .222 in 10 games against his former team. He is 0 for 8 lifetime versus Harang.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto is batting .333 with a homer and nine RBIs in 11 lifetime games against Washington. He missed the Reds' last visit to the nation's capital June 9-11 due to stress-related issues.

Cincinnati lost six straight in Washington prior to taking two of three in that series.