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Reds' Leake tries for first victory vs. Mets

May 16, 2012 - 3:04 PM (Sports Network) - Third-year right-hander Mike Leake tries again for a first win of 2012 tonight when the Cincinnati Reds head to Citi Field for the opener of a two-game series with the New York Mets.

Leake, one of the rare players to jump straight from college to the big leagues with no time in the minors, won 20 games over 53 appearances in his initial two seasons with the Reds after they drafted him eighth overall out of Arizona State in 2009.

He's not been able to regain that success in 2012, however, instead dropping five decisions in six starts while failing to go beyond five innings twice and getting past six innings just two more times.

Leake was rocked for six runs on seven hits in his most recent outing on May 11 while dropping a 7-3 decision to Washington.

Overall, in 31 2/3 innings, he's given up 25 earned runs on 40 hits, translating to a 7.11 earned run average.

In two career starts against the Mets, he's 0-1 with a 2.19 ERA.

For New York, lefty Johan Santana enters on a four-start unbeaten streak.

The 33-year-old Venezuelan, who's 63 games above .500 (134-71) in his major- league career, hasn't lost since a 9-3 drubbing at Atlanta on April 17.

In four subsequent outings, he's 1-0 and has allowed just seven runs on 20 hits across 25 2/3 innings.

Santana has never lost against the Reds, winning all four decisions across six starts in seven appearances while posting a 3.23 ERA in 39 full innings.

On Tuesday in Atlanta, Tim Hudson spun seven strong innings of two-run ball and the Braves defeated the Reds, 6-2, to close out a quick two-game series at Turner Field.

Johnny Cueto (4-1) lasted just four innings, yielding a season-high six runs - five earned - on eight hits and two walks to suffer his first loss of the year.

Ryan Hanigan and Drew Stubbs each plated a run for the Reds, who had their two-game win streak halted.

In New York, Travis Ishikawa homered twice and knocked in a career-high five RBI as the Milwaukee Brewers hammered the Mets, 8-0, in the finale of a two- game series.

Dillon Gee (2-3) was touched for seven runs on eight hits and a walk in 5 1/3 innings in New York's third loss in five games.

The Mets won five of seven versus the Reds last season.