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Reds hope to score runs for Arroyo against Nationals

May 21, 2007 - 2:01 PM Washington (16-28) at Cincinnati (17-27) 7:10 pm EDT

CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- The Cincinnati Reds are in real danger of dropping below the surging Washington Nationals for the worst record in the National League.

They hope to turn the tide Monday, when they send ace Bronson Arroyo to the mound in the opener of a four-game series with the Nationals.

Washington has won seven of its past 10 games, while Cincinnati is marred in a 4-14 stretch.

The Reds have had trouble scoring runs in Arroyo's starts, managing a total of 12 as the righthander has absorbed four losses and failed to involved in the decision of three others. The 30-year-old has lost his last two starts, despite yielding just three earned runs in 14 innings.

Arroyo (2-4, 2.64 ERA) has dominated the Nationals in the past, holding them scoreless over 16 innings in two starts.

Washington will counter with rookie Levale Speigner (1-0, 4.91). The converted reliever made his first career start last Wednesday against Atlanta, allowing four runs and eight hits in four innings, but did not factor in the decision of a 6-4 loss.

Speigner was thrust into the rotation due to the injuries to Shawn Hill, Jason Bergmann, Jerome Williams and John Patterson.

The Nationals have lost eight road games in a row.