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Reds-Diamondbacks Preview

Aug 19, 2010 - 6:35 AM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Cincinnati (69-51) at Arizona (47-74), 9:40 p.m. EDT

With the NL's best offense and a steadily increasing lead in the Central Division, the Cincinnati Reds have accomplished quite a bit this season.

What they've yet to do is put together a six-game winning streak.

The Reds failed in three previous attempts to get to six, but figure to have a great shot Thursday night as they seek an eighth straight road win over the pitching-starved Arizona Diamondbacks.

Cincinnati (69-51) was swept by St. Louis from Aug. 9-11 to fall a game behind the Cardinals in the Central race, and many felt that was the last time Dusty Baker's surprising club would see first place.

Instead, the Reds are threatening to build a commanding lead. Cincinnati is three games up on St. Louis after winning its fifth straight Wednesday, rallying for eight runs over the final two innings in an 11-7 victory over Arizona.

"The more you do things, and the more you do them right, and the more you believe it, that's what it's all about," Baker said.

The No. 6-8 hitters in the Reds' lineup went 9 for 13 on Tuesday, led by Jay Bruce, who was 4 for 5.

Despite scoring in double digits for the 13th time, Cincinnati would love to get its No. 3 hitter back Thursday. Joey Votto, the Reds' leader in average (.324), homers (28) and RBIs (79), was scratched Wednesday due to tightness in his back and is day to day.

Votto is the biggest reason why Cincinnati leads the NL with 4.9 runs per game and a .272 batting average, but the club should feel good about its chances Thursday even if he can't go. The Reds have averaged 6.9 runs in winning seven straight at Chase Field, and they'll get another crack at Arizona's dreadful pitching staff.

After Wednesday's bullpen implosion pushed the relief corps' ERA to a major league-worst 6.29, the Diamondbacks (47-74) would appreciate a strong start from Joe Saunders (1-2, 3.86 ERA). The left-hander gave up four runs and 10 hits over six innings in a 4-2 loss at Washington on Friday.

Saunders has never faced Cincinnati.

The Reds give the ball to Travis Wood (3-1, 2.65), who was sent to Triple-A Louisville on Aug. 9, a day after winning his third straight start. The move was designed to keep the rookie left-hander's innings down, and he pitched just two innings during his stop in the minors.

He held the Cubs hitless into the sixth Aug. 8, ultimately allowing four runs over 6 1-3 innings of an 11-4 win. All of Wood's victories have come on the road, where he has thrown 45 of his 51 major league innings.

"He's tough," Cubs second baseman Jeff Baker said. "We saw his numbers coming in. He throws strikes and is aggressive and pitches with a lot of confidence."

The Diamondbacks have batted .207 against lefties in their last 11 games. Arizona is 14-72 when it fails to score at least six runs.