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Reds-Brewers Preview

Sep 22, 2010 - 4:33 AM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Cincinnati (85-66) at Milwaukee (69-80), 8:10 p.m. EDT

Johnny Cueto has received plenty of run support this season. Lately, though, that hasn't been the case for the Cincinnati Reds right-hander.

Cueto goes for his first victory in nearly four weeks on Wednesday night when the NL Central-leading Reds try to win their eighth straight over the Milwaukee Brewers and move closer to their first division title since 1995.

Although Cueto (12-5, 3.35 ERA) receives a league-high run support average (6.24), the Reds, who lead the league in batting (.271) and runs per game (4.9), have scored just seven total runs in his last three outings.

Cueto, though, has battled through this lack of support by posting a 2.52 ERA in four starts since his last win Aug. 27.

He is 1-0 with a 1.38 ERA in two starts against Milwaukee this season, and will look for another solid outing as Cincinnati (86-66) tries to sweep its first road series since Aug. 17-19 versus Arizona.

After St. Louis lost at Pittsburgh earlier Tuesday night, the Reds built an eight-game divisional lead and trimmed their magic number to four with a 4-3 victory.

Cincinnati is batting .306 and averaging 6.3 runs while winning nine of 10 against Milwaukee this season.

"It's been miserable," said left fielder Ryan Braun, who is batting .216 against the Reds in 2010. "They dominated us."

While Cincinnati continues its playoff push, Milwaukee (69-81) is on the verge of posting back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since 2003-04.

Coming off his first shutout since 2008, Randy Wolf (12-11, 4.32) might need another one the way the Brewers are swinging the bats. Milwaukee is hitting .174 while losing three straight.

Wolf struck out six and threw a three-hitter in Friday's 3-0 victory at San Francisco. It was the veteran left-hander's 13th career complete game and ninth shutout.

"I really wanted to finish this one," Wolf said following his 111-pitch outing.

Since giving up career highs of 12 runs and 13 hits in a 15-3 loss at Pittsburgh on July 21, Wolf is 5-2 with a 2.66 ERA in 10 starts.

He is 9-2 with a 3.17 ERA in 18 starts against the Reds.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto could return to the lineup after being a late scratch Tuesday with a sinus infection. Votto is batting .457 with three homers and 12 RBIs versus Milwaukee this season.

Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder is hitting .212 with one RBI against the Reds in 2010. He has seven hits - two homers - in 20 at-bats against Cueto.

Cincinnati has won seven of eight at Miller Park.