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Brewers-Reds Preview

Oct 1, 2010 - 5:05 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Milwaukee (75-83) at Cincinnati (88-70), 7:10 p.m. EDT

Making their first playoff appearance since 1995, the Cincinnati Reds still have a chance to open at home.

The Reds will try to make the race for the NL's No. 2 seed interesting Friday as they open a three-game home set against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Cincinnati (89-70) trails San Francisco by two games with three to play in the race for the league's second-best record behind Philadelphia. The Giants, who have yet to clinch the West title, host San Diego this weekend.

The Reds have won three of their last four games, including a 9-1 victory over Houston on Thursday. Drew Stubbs homered and four RBIs as part of a 14-hit attack.

"Everybody is getting into the postseason mode," said second baseman Brandon Phillips, who had two hits and three RBIs. "We hit (Brett Myers') mistakes. We're going to be facing a lot of good arms in the postseason, and that's what you have to do - hit the mistakes."

Cincinnati swept the Brewers (76-83) at home Aug. 30-Sept. 1, improving to 9-2 in the season series.

NL MVP candidate Joey Votto, who went 0 for 2 with two walks and two strikeouts Thursday, is hitting .457 with four doubles, three home runs and 12 RBIs against Milwaukee in 2010.

Milwaukee looks to complete a strong final week after winning the final three of their four-game set at the New York Mets. The Brewers won 9-2 on Thursday for their seventh victory in nine games overall.

All-Star Corey Hart extended his hitting streak to 15 games Thursday, going 2 for 5 with two runs scored and an RBI to reach 100 for the first time in his career. Casey McGehee also reached hit the 100-RBI mark to join teammate Ryan Braun, who has 103.

The New York Yankees are the only other major league team to boast three players with 100 RBIs.

"It's really rare to do. It really shows the consistency of our offense," said Braun, who has driven in at least 100 for the third straight year.

The potent Brewers lineup will face Reds rookie Travis Wood (5-4, 3.46 ERA), who is 0-2 in his last four starts, giving up three runs in each.

Wood didn't factor in the decision of a 4-3 loss to San Diego on Saturday, when he pitched seven innings.

In his first start against the Brewers, the 23-year-old left-hander allowed two runs and struck out six in five innings of a 10-2 win July 28 at Miller Park. A double by Braun was the only extra-base hit he surrendered.

Milwaukee will also send a rookie to the mound in Mark Rogers (0-0, 0.00), who seeks to follow up a promising first start.

The right-hander, who made two relief appearances in September, struck out four in three hitless innings of a 6-2 win over Florida on Friday.

Rogers also singled in his first career at-bat.