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Carpenter tries to avoid sweep for Cards in Cincy

May 15, 2011 - 2:47 PM (Sports Network) - Chris Carpenter tries to continue his domination of the Reds this afternoon when he takes the mound for the Cardinals, trying to salvage the finale for his team in a three-game series at Great American Ball Park.

Carpenter has gone 10-0 over his last 12 starts against the Reds, last losing to them on June 6, 2006. He was 5-0 with 1.78 ERA in five starts vs. Cincinnati in 2010 and his career mark is 12-3 with a 2.07 ERA in 19 starts against the NL Central foe. His career 2.07 ERA vs. Cincy is the lowest of any opposing pitcher with at least 15 starts since 1946, just edging out Cardinal Harry "The Cat" Brecheen at 2.22.

In his last three starts overall, the 2005 NL Cy Young Award winner has been pounded, giving up 33 hits and 11 earned runs in a span of 20 innings, yet Carpenter is 1-0 in that span.

The Reds scored twice off Carpenter on April 23, a game started by Travis Wood for Cincinnati. The Reds will send the same lefty to the hill today to battle Carpenter. On Monday at Minute Maid Park and in his second consecutive start vs. the Astros, Wood threw 6 2/3 shutout innings to earn the 6-1 victory.

Currently working on a 9 2/3-inning scoreless streak, Wood is 1-0 with a 2.03 ERA in two career games against St. Louis. He didn't get a decision April 23 after allowing eight hits and three runs in 6 1/3 innings at Busch Stadium.

Wood will try to help the Reds to their first three-game sweep of the Cardinals since September 11-13, 2007.

On Saturday the Reds picked up a 7-3 win. Brandon Phillips went 2-for-3 with a solo homer and three RBI.

Johnny Cueto (2-0), making his second start of the season, gave up three unearned runs on three hits over 7 2/3 innings. He also struck out five and walked two in the victory.

"He kept his focus the whole game," Hernandez said of Cueto. "He wasn't trying to do too much."

Jon Jay hit a three-run homer for the Cardinals, who have lost three of four.

Kyle McClellan (5-1) allowed four runs on seven hits over six full frames to suffer his first loss since September 18.

The Reds lead the season series, 3-2.