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Struggling Reds look to avoid sweep vs. Pirates

May 27, 2007 - 1:57 PM Pittsburgh (21-27) at Cincinnati (18-32) 1:15 pm EDT

CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- Zach Duke is struggling. So are the Cincinnati Reds. Something has to give when the Pittsburgh Pirates go for the sweep of the Reds on Sunday.

Duke (1-5, 5.56 ERA), who has lost three of his last four starts, takes on the mound as Pittsburgh looks to hand Cincinnati its sixth straight loss.

The Pirates, who have won three straight for the first time since winning five in a row from April 22-27, are aiming for the first three-game sweep of the Reds in four years.

Duke is hoping that Pittsburgh's success will rub off on him. The lefthander allowed six runs - five earned - and a season-high 11 hits in 4 2/3 innings on Tuesday in a 9-4 loss to St. Louis. However, his lone win of the season came against Cincinnati on April 8 when he allowed three runs and six hits in six innings of a 6-3 win.

Cincinnati, which has lost 19 of its last 24 games and has the worst record in the major's, will send converted reliever Kirk Saarloos to the mound. Saarloos (0-3, 5.09) will be making his second start after appearing in 20 games out of the bullpen.

In his last outing Saarloos received a no-decision when he allowed three runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings against Washington on Tuesday.