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Votto and the Reds resume set in Los Angeles

Jun 14, 2011 - 2:45 PM (Sports Network) - While Cincinnati Reds slugger Jay Bruce stole the show in May, his teammate and reigning National League MVP Joey Votto is starting to surge in June. Votto and the Reds will get back to work tonight in the continuation of a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Votto is batting .348 with three home runs, 12 RBI and 16 hits in 12 games this month and cracked a three-run homer during a four-run seventh inning in last night's 6-4 victory at Chavez Ravine. Chris Heisey homered and Bronson Arroyo and got the win despite allowing four runs and six hits in 7 2/3 innings.

"We hit the ball hard today," said Reds manager Dusty Baker. "[Votto] is very confident. He studies. He's a pleasure to be around."

Arroyo also went 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored for Cincinnati, which is 3-2 on a seven-game trek through San Francisco and Los Angeles. The Reds have won seven of their last 12 games.

After this set in Hollywood, the Reds will return home for interleague play versus the Blue Jays and Yankees. Taking the hill tonight for Baker's club will be Johnny Cueto, who is 3-2 with a 1.93 ERA in seven starts. Cueto is coming off seven shutout innings in a 3-0 win at San Francisco on Thursday and struck out eight batters. '

The right-hander had been 0-2 in four starts before handling the defending World Series champions with ease. Cueto, however, has struggled in his career against Los Angeles, going 0-3 with a 4.50 ERA in four starts. He did not record a decision in an 11-8 loss versus LA at home on June 4, as he allowed two runs over seven innings of work.

Los Angeles went 5-5 on a 10-game road trip and returned home to suffer a 6-4 loss in the opener of a 12-game homestand versus Cincinnati. Hiroki Kuroda was saddled with the loss for giving up four runs -- two earned -- and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings.

"[Kuroda] kept us in the game," said Dodgers manager Don Mattingly. "He's throwing the ball well. Except for that home run. But he seems to be snake-bit right now."

Dee Gordon homered and James Loney finished with two hits and an RBI for the Dodgers, who have lost four of their last six games. Matt Kemp had a hit and a run scored in a losing cause, and is batting .457 with seven homers and 16 RBI in his last 10 games, nine of which have been starts.

Clayton Kershaw has been banged around in his last two starts, but has avoided the loss column. Kershaw will toe the rubber for Los Angeles tonight and has allowed six runs in each of his last two starts. He lasted 6 2/3 innings in an 11-8 win at Cincinnati on June 4, then was reached for six more runs in a 9-7 loss at Colorado on Thursday.

The left-hander, who is 4-0 in his previous eight trips to the mound, owns a 6-3 mark in 14 starts this season to go along with a 3.44 ERA. Kershaw is 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA in four career starts against the Reds.

Los Angeles will also host the Astros, Tigers and Angels on the homestand.

The Reds are just 3-13 in their last 16 at Los Angeles, while the Dodgers are 17-8 in the past 25 matchups overall.