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Reds-Astros Preview

Sep 19, 2010 - 4:33 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Cincinnati (83-65) at Houston (71-76), 2:05 p.m. EDT

The Cincinnati Reds finally broke out of their offensive slump. Now, they just need to find a way to maintain the strong hitting.

The NL Central-leading Reds look to win back-to-back games for only the second time this month Sunday when they close a three-game road series against the Houston Astros.

Cincinnati (84-65) avoided a third straight loss Saturday, defeating Houston (71-77) 11-1. Ryan Hanigan had three hits and drove in two runs, while Jay Bruce, Jim Edmonds and Drew Stubbs all homered.

"We haven't been hot lately so it was nice to get out there tonight and get some runs on the board," Bruce said.

It was the most runs scored by the Reds since a 12-11, 12-inning win over San Francisco on Aug. 25. Cincinnati had lost nine of its previous 13, averaging 3.5 runs. The Reds scored seven runs in two of the victories during that stretch, but each time were held to one run in the following game and lost.

With Saturday's win, the Reds moved seven games ahead of St. Louis in the NL Central and lowered the magic number to clinch their first division title since 1995 to eight.

Looking to lower that magic number further, the Reds will turn to Travis Wood (5-3, 3.46 ERA), who continues to struggle going deep into games.

Wood gave up three runs and nine hits in five innings of a 3-1 loss to Arizona on Tuesday. He has made it past the fifth inning in only one of his last five starts while posting a 5.54 ERA.

"I need to go deeper in ballgames," Wood said. "I felt good (Tuesday). I fell behind some hitters and had to throw strikes and they put the ball in play."

The rookie left-hander lasted six innings against Houston on July 23, allowing four runs and nine hits in a 6-4 win, but didn't factor in the decision.

He'll look to slow Carlos Lee, who had three hits Saturday including a double and a solo home run. Lee is 10 for 24 with three homers and four RBIs in his last six games.

Houston probable starter Brett Myers (12-7, 2.85) hasn't faced the Reds since 2008, and is looking to win 13 games for the first time since 2005.

Myers won his second straight start Monday, giving up one run while striking out 10 in seven innings of a 4-2 win over Milwaukee. It was the 30th consecutive start he's pitched at least six innings, making him the eighth pitcher in 90 years to do so and the first since Curt Schilling went 35 straight games to start the 2002 season.

"What an outstanding performance," Astros manager Brad Mills said. "He went home and his wife had a baby and he came back and he's still the same pitcher. What a great job he did. Those seven innings were outstanding."

The right-hander is 2-2 with a 3.72 ERA in nine games - seven starts - versus the Reds.