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Reds-Cubs Preview

Aug 7, 2010 - 10:54 PM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Cincinnati (62-48) at Chicago (47-62), 2:20 p.m. EDT

When Travis Wood took the mound at Wrigley Field last month, he threw seven-plus solid innings in his major league debut.

The left-hander looks for another strong performance against the Cubs on Sunday when the NL Central-leading Reds go for their first series sweep in Chicago in five seasons.

Wood (2-1, 2.42 ERA), the Reds' minor league pitcher of the year in 2009, allowed two runs, two hits and struck out four in a 3-2, 10-inning win over Chicago on July 1.

"What was impressive was his location," Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee told the Reds' official website. "Being his first major league start, he had composure and looked good."

Wood is 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA in his last two starts. He threw seven innings of two-hit ball and did not allow a runner past second base in Monday's 4-0 win at Pittsburgh.

"All my pitches were working well," he said. "I was able to get some quick outs and things went my way."

Things have gone Cincinnati's way versus the Cubs this season, winning nine of 12. The bullpen yielded two ninth-inning runs Saturday, but the Reds (63-48) held on for a 4-3 victory, their eighth in 10 games, to move a season-best 15 games above .500.

"These games are taking some hours out of my life," said manager Dusty Baker. "Every time you think you have this game figured out, something happens to let you know you don't."

Cincinnati, which won three of four in Chicago from July 1-4, will look for its first sweep at Wrigley Field since Aug. 8-10, 2005. Baker was managing the Cubs in that series.

Current skipper Lou Piniella has seen his team drop nine of 10 to fall a season-worst 16 games below .500. He will give fellow rookie Thomas Diamond (0-1, 4.50) the ball as Chicago (47-63) tries to salvage the finale before beginning a seven-game trip Monday against NL wildcard-leading San Francisco and archrival St. Louis.

Making his major league debut Tuesday, Diamond struck out 10 and gave up three runs and seven hits over six innings of a 4-3 loss to Milwaukee. He joined Mark Prior as the only Cubs since 1920 to debut with double digits in strikeouts.

"The goal this year was to get noticed and to try to get up here," Diamond said following his 122-pitch outing. "Now it's to try to stay here."

The right-hander may get his first look at center fielder Drew Stubbs, who went 3 for 4 with a homer and two RBIs Saturday after being stuck in a 1-for-37 slide. Stubbs is batting .421 with four home runs and eight RBIs in four games at Wrigley Field this season.

Tyler Colvin has been far less successful on the Cubs' homestand, going 2 for 17 with six strikeouts. Piniella said following Saturday's loss that Colvin, who leads all rookies with 17 homers, will not be in the lineup for a second straight day.

Kosuke Fukudome, who started in right field, was 1 for 2 with three walks.

Lee continues to struggle versus the Reds this season, batting .182 after going 0 for 3 and striking out with the bases loaded in the ninth inning Saturday. Lee was 0 for 3 against Wood on July 1.