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Reds, Pirates resume NL Central rivalry

Jul 18, 2011 - 6:34 PM (Sports Network) - The Reds probably never thought that repeating as National League Central champs would be easy, but they also didn't picture that the Pirates would be one of the teams challenging them for the spot.

Cincinnati will try to pick up some ground in the division standings this evening in the opener of a three-game series, but must do so versus a Pittsburgh club it has struggled against this season.

The Reds currently sit fourth in a crowded NL Central, 3 1/2 games off the pace being set by the first-place Brewers. While they do have a solid 28-20 record against the division this season, they have lost four straight and five of six to the Pirates this year, with all six meetings taking place in Cincinnati.

Pittsburgh will hope to keep that trend going at PNC Park tonight and improve on its 22-13 record against the NL Central. That includes a 7-5 victory in extra innings over the Astros on Sunday that kept the Pirates a half-game back of the Brewers in the standings.

Things didn't look to be going Pittsburgh's way after All-Star closer Joel Hanrahan blew his first save of the season by allowing a run in the eighth inning on Sunday, but the Pirates used a couple of Astro miscues in the 11th inning to plate three runs. Josh Harrison scored the go-ahead run on a passed ball with one out before Alex Presley capped his three-hit day with a single that drove in his third run of the game. He later scored on a throwing error.

Chris Leroux pitched a perfect 10th to earn his first win of the season and Chris Resop notched his first save despite allowing a run.

"I know when it goes extra innings, that anybody could be down there," Resop said. "I was told if we went ahead I was gonna get the call. If we stayed tied, Leroux was going to stay out there."

Neil Walker extended his hitting streak to 11 straight games as the Pirates won for the seventh time in 10 games.

The Reds also kept pace in the division on Sunday by notching a 3-1 victory over the Cardinals, who are tied with the Pirates for second in the NL Central, in the rubber match of a three-game series.

Ryan Hanigan knocked in the eventual winning run in the seventh inning and Zack Cozart connected on his first career homer to give him a hit in each of his first six major league games since joining the club on July 7.

Homer Bailey evened his record at 4-4 by throwing 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball for the Reds, who had lost seven of 10 prior to the All-Star break and this series.

Cincinnati now gets another chance to make a move in the division and will hand the ball tonight to Dontrelle Willis after he pitched a decent outing on Sunday in his first major league start since June 29, 2010.

After going 5-2 with a 2.63 earned run average in 13 starts with Triple-A Louisville, the former National League Rookie of the Year got a no-decision at Milwaukee on Sunday. Nerves may have gotten the better of him as he allowed a run, two hits and a pair of walks in the first inning, but Willis allowed just one more run and another two hits over the next five frames.

"I felt back at home," Willis told the Reds' website afterwards. "I just wanted to go out there and play good baseball, and I think I did."

The high-kicking lefty is 2-5 with a 3.74 ERA in nine career starts versus the Pirates, who he hasn't faced since June 14, 2009. Battling control problems while with Detroit, the 29-year-old Willis was rocked for six runs on six hits and eight walks over 3 2/3 innings and did not pitch in the majors for the rest of that season.

Countering for the Pirates will be Charlie Morton, who will look to turn things around after a rough start last time out back on July 6 versus Houston. The righty did not allow a run through his first five innings, but was charged with five, including four earned, while recording just one out in the sixth inning as Houston sent 10 men to the plate in the frame.

In losing for the third time in four decisions, the 27-year-old righty fell to 7-5 with a 3.80 ERA in 16 starts this season. That does include a 5-1 mark and 2.14 ERA in six career starts versus the NL Central.

Morton is just 3-4 with a 4.26 ERA in eight career starts against the Reds, but has dominated them in two winning appearances this season, both complete games at Cincinnati. He twirled a five-hit shutout on May 18 after giving up just one run over nine innings during an April 15 victory.