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Pirates open set with Reds in Cincy

Apr 15, 2011 - 2:59 PM (Sports Network) - The Pittsburgh Pirates try to avoid a fifth straight loss this evening when they begin a four-game series with the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park.

After dropping two straight to the Rockies over the weekend to close out a four-game set, the Pirates were outscored 10-1 in getting swept in a rain- shortened two-game series by the Brewers. That set concluded on Thursday with a 4-1 loss.

Pittsburgh managed just four hits in the game and struck out 10 times versus Milwaukee starter Randy Wolf. The Pirates didn't get on the scoreboard until Andrew McCutchen crossed the plate on a wild pitch in the ninth inning.

"You just got to keep playing the game," said Pirates manager Clint Hurdle, whose club went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

Paul Maholm took the loss despite allowing just two runs over seven innings.

The Pirates are hitting just .223 on the season and are last in the National League with 38 runs. More production out of Pedro Alvarez would help.

The third baseman was out of the starting lineup on Thursday to rest, but ended up striking out as a pinch hitter late in the game. That dropped his average to .196 and he has four runs batted in without a homer.

The Reds haven't had any issues with reigning NL MVP Joey Votto, who has a hit in 11 of his first 12 games and is batting .444 with a pair of homers and seven RBI this season.

Votto had an RBI double in Wednesday's 3-2 loss to San Diego, and he and Drew Stubbs combined for five of Cincinnati's eight hits. However, Nick Masset gave up the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning for the Reds, who had won three of four.

Second baseman Brandon Phillips suffered a groin strain late in the contest, but he may not miss any time thanks to Thursday's off day.

Reds pitcher Bronson Arroyo takes aim at a sixth straight winning decision dating back to last year, a streak he extended with victories in each of his first two starts in 2011. He has allowed just three earned runs over his 13 innings this season without issuing a walk.

The right-handed Arroyo was excellent on Saturday in Arizona, holding the club to an unearned run on eight hits while being limited to six innings due to a bout with mononucleosis.

"We had a couple of stressful innings, which tired him earlier than usual," Reds manager Dusty Baker told his club's website. "He is still battling the strength problem. Usually he's good for that seventh, but (Saturday) he was spent. That was all he had."

Arroyo, 34, went 2-1 with a 2.61 earned run average versus the Pirates last year as part of his career-high 17-win season and is 6-4 against them lifetime with a 3.01 ERA.

Unlike Arroyo, Pirates starter Charlie Morton has battled some command issues he hopes to sort out tonight. He has still been effective over his first two starts, going 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA after posting a 2-12 record and 7.57 ERA in 17 starts last season.

The 27-year-old righty picked up a win at St. Louis on April 4 with six innings of one-run ball, but did not factor into the decision of Saturday's outing versus the Rockies. He was charged with three runs -- two earned -- on five hits over seven innings while walking five for a second straight game.

"He's got top-of-the-rotation stuff. It's no secret," Pirates catcher Ryan Doumit said of Morton. "All he needs to do is trust himself. I'm starting to see that."

Morton was just 0-2 with a 6.91 ERA in three starts versus the Reds last year and is 1-4 with a 6.34 ERA in this series lifetime. He has done well against Votto, who is just 1-for-10 versus Morton with four strikeouts.

The Reds won 10 of 16 versus the Pirates last season and are 12-4 against them at home since the start of the 2009 season.