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Reds, Cards renew rivalry in Cincy

May 13, 2011 - 3:00 PM (Sports Network) - The two best teams in the National League's Central Division take their rivalry 350 miles to the east tonight when the St. Louis Cardinals head to Great American Ball Park for the first of three games with the Cincinnati Reds.

The teams finished 1-2 in the divisional race last season, with the Reds earning entrance to the postseason for the first time in 15 years. The roles have reversed thus far in 2011, with the Cardinals staking claim to a 1 1/2- game edge entering the weekend.

St. Louis hosted a three-game series between the two last month at Busch Stadium and won twice while outscoring the Reds, 10-7.

The visitors come in having won six of their last nine games overall, including two of three at Chicago in a series that ended Thursday with a 9-1 triumph.

Jon Jay drove in three runs and Jaime Garcia tossed seven solid innings for the Cardinals. Jay, Colby Rasmus and Yadier Molina each had three hits for the Cardinals. Garcia (5-0) allowed one run on a season-high nine hits and struck out four.

Right-hander Kyle Lohse gets the call for St. Louis and will make his eighth career start against the team he was briefly part of in 2006-07.

The 32-year-old Californian began his big-league stint with Minnesota in 2001 and was dealt to the Reds in 2006. He made 33 appearances and was 9-17 before heading to Philadelphia during the 2007 season.

He headed to St. Louis to begin 2008 and has blossomed since, winning a career-best 15 games that season and starting this season with four wins in six decisions over seven starts.

The 6-foot-2, 210-pounder won four straight outings between April 10 and 27, defeating San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington and Houston while allowing 17 hits and three runs in 31 1/3 innings.

He's 0-1 with a no-decision in two May efforts, giving up a combined 12 hits and six runs in 14 innings.

Lohse is 2-3 against the Reds with a 4.31 earned run average.

Cincinnati counters with 34-year-old righty Bronson Arroyo, who's won just once in his last five starts after beginning the season 2-0.

The Key West, Fla. native scattered seven hits and allowed a single run over 7 1/3 innings in his most recent outing, but go a no-decision in the Reds' 3-2 loss to the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

His last win came April 25 at Milwaukee, when he gave up an earned run and six hits in 6 1/3 innings of a 9-5 triumph.

On the season, the veteran has struck out 33 batters and allowed 48 hits and 20 runs in 44 innings, following up on a career-best 17-win performance in 2010.

He is 7-11 with a 4.58 ERA in 159 1/3 career innings against St. Louis.

The Reds last played Wednesday and lost for just the second time in eight games when Hunter Pence doubled home the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning. The Houston Astros avoided a three-game sweep with that 4-3 victory at Minute Maid Park.

Pinch-hitter Chris Heisey and Drew Stubbs hit back-to-back home runs in the seventh for Cincinnati. Reds starter Edinson Volquez allowed three runs on three hits and walked five in four frames.