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Jun 5, 2010 - 5:22 AM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Cincinnati (31-23) at Washington (26-29), 7:05 p.m. EDT

A lack of offense is the biggest reason the Cincinnati Reds are in danger of their first three-game losing streak in more than six weeks.

A run-scoring outburst would be especially meaningful with Mike Leake on the mound.

The Reds haven't scored for the rookie in his last two starts, but they'll try to help Leake improve to 5-0 as their series with the host Washington Nationals continues Saturday night.

Cincinnati (31-24) ranked second in the NL in runs per game during May - a big reason the club temporarily surged to the top of the Central.

The Reds haven't dropped three straight since a season-worst five-game skid from April 14-18, but they have lost four of five overall and been held to three runs over the last two.

They had 12 hits but stranded 11 runners during Friday night's 4-2 loss - their fourth straight against Washington. The Nationals took the lead with two unearned runs in the seventh inning after Drew Stubbs and Jonny Gomes collided in the outfield.

"We've just got to play better - play better defense and get some timely hitting, as we're accustomed to getting," manager Dusty Baker said. "We kind of let that one get away."

Leake (4-0, 2.45 ERA) hopes that the brief slump ends after getting no runs of support in his past two outings. He has allowed two earned runs over 19 1-3 innings in his last three starts, but the Reds lost them all, including Sunday's 2-0, 10-inning defeat to Houston.

The 22-year-old right-hander, who skipped the minors entirely after pitching for Arizona State last year, worked six innings to post his seventh consecutive quality start. He has a 1.79 ERA in that stretch.

Leake faces another rookie, Luis Atilano, who also has found fast success in the majors.

Atilano (5-1, 4.70) will be looking to win his third straight start. He gave up four runs - three earned - in 6 2-3 innings at Houston on Monday and got plenty of run support in a 14-4 victory.

"I'll take it," Atilano told the Nationals' official website. "The guys helped me a lot. As long as I'm on top of my game, I feel like I can compete with anyone."

Washington (27-29) got help from another rookie as the club snapped a three-game losing streak Friday. Shortstop Ian Desmond drove in the go-ahead run with a seventh-inning single.

Desmond, who had originally been trying to lay down a sacrifice bunt, has 10 RBIs in his last 10 games while batting .297.

"I hate to say that I give more focus to those at-bats," Desmond said. "But after I missed the bunt, I told myself, 'Hey, we've got to really do something here.'"

While Atilano has struggled at home, going 1-1 with a 7.47 ERA, the Nationals have won three straight and six of eight in the nation's capital.

The Reds, meanwhile, have lost eight of their last 10 at Washington.