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Cards, Reds renew hostilities in Cincinnati

Jul 15, 2011 - 3:17 PM (Sports Network) - The National League Central Division's most heated rivalry renews itself again tonight when the defending division champion Cincinnati Reds host the front-running St. Louis Cardinals in the first of three games at Great American Ball Park.

The Reds, who broke a 15-year postseason drought last season, enter the second half of 2011 sitting fourth in the six-team division, though they trail the Cardinals by just four games.

St. Louis, though racked by injuries, has been within striking distance of the lead through the first half and retook the top spot from Milwaukee - whom it leads by a half-game.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are third in the crowded mix, one game in back of the Cardinals.

Right-hander Johnny Cueto, the Reds' most effective pitcher in the first half, begins the second half while trying to maintain the stingy 1.96 earned run average he racked up through his initial 12 starts and 82 2/3 innings.

The 25-year-old Dominican missed his initial few starts with injury, but has won five of eight decisions since regaining his full-time slot in the Cincinnati rotation.

He was winless, however, in his final three outings before the break, combining to allow seven earned runs over 22 innings in no-decisions against Tampa Bay and Minnesota and a 1-0 loss to the Cardinals in St. Louis.

He's 4-4 lifetime against the Cardinals in 11 starts with a 4.88 ERA in 59 innings.

St. Louis counters with 33-year-old righty Jake Westbrook, whose seven wins in the first half are just three shy of the 10 he recorded while splitting 2010 between the Cardinals and Cleveland Indians.

The Georgia native won a career-best 15 games with Cleveland in both 2005 and 2006, but has won just 24 times across five seasons since.

He's 2-1 lifetime in seven meetings with the Reds, but got a no-decision in a 9-8 St. Louis loss on July 6 at home, allowing seven runs on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Westbrook is 5-2 in nine road starts this season and the Cardinals are 10-8 in games he's pitched.

The Reds have won five of nine over the Cardinals this season, including a three-game sweep at home from May 13-15.