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Reds take aim at series win in Arizona

Apr 10, 2011 - 3:10 PM (Sports Network) - Second-year righty Mike Leake can pitch Cincinnati to its third straight series win today when the Reds play the finale of a three-game set against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.

The Reds got a strong pitching performance from veteran Bronson Arroyo in Saturday's second game, a 6-1 victory. Arroyo (2-0) gave up an unearned run and eight hits in a six-inning start for the Reds, and struck out six.

Cincinnati led, 2-1, heading to the ninth inning before Jonny Gomes' two-run double triggered a four-run inning that helped the Reds pull away along with two Arizona errors.

Chris Heisey and Ryan Hanigan added RBI hits in the big frame for the Reds, who had dropped two in a row.

Daniel Hudson (0-2) was the hard-luck loser after giving up just two runs in seven innings. He allowed both runs in the first inning, and Arizona's offense never bailed him out, much like his first start.

Leake, a 23-year-old Californian, jumped straight from college to the majors in 2010 and was 5-0 with a 2.22 earned run average in his initial 11 starts through June 5.

The struggles began soon after, however, as he won just three more times in his final 13 outings and eventually was sent to the bullpen before finishing with an 8-4 mark and a 4.23 ERA in 138 1/3 innings.

Leake made his 2011 debut on April 5 against Houston and picked up a victory after allowing three hits and two runs in six innings of an 8-2 Reds win.

He has never faced Arizona.

The Diamondbacks counter with 29-year-old lefty Joe Saunders, who'll make his second start of the season.

A former first-round draft pick, Saunders was a tough-luck 4-1 loser in start No. 1 against the Chicago Cubs, taking a 4-1 loss after allowing five hits and two runs in six innings.

The start was his 14th in an Arizona uniform after he was acquired from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim last year in a deal that sent Dan Haren to California.

A 16-game winner with the Angels in 2009, Saunders began the season 6-10 in 20 starts before the jump to the National League.

He's lost both of his career starts to the Reds while allowing 17 hits and 11 runs - eight earned - in 13 1/3 innings.

Cincinnati won five of its seven meetings with the D'Backs last season.