• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Latos goes after another win vs. Rockies

May 27, 2012 - 2:39 PM (Sports Network) - Mat Latos eyes his fourth straight winning decision this afternoon when the Cincinnati Reds play the rubber match of their three-game series with the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park.

After starting the year 0-2 with an 8.22 earned run average through his first three starts, Latos has rebounded nicely, going 3-0 with a 2.72 ERA over his last six outings.

Latos picked up a win on Tuesday against Atlanta, as he allowed two runs and five hits in seven innings to lower his ERA on the year to 4.35.

"It's about time," said Latos, who struck out eight and threw 116 pitches. "I felt real good, body-wise, mechanics-wise, pitches... I was ready to go. I was tired of going five innings or so. It was good to go seven for once."

Latos has faced the Rockies six times and is 3-2 with a 3.44 ERA.

Cincinnati dropped the opener of this set on Friday, but bounced back in a big way on Saturday, as Chris Heisey and Ryan Ludwick both hit three-run homers to power the Reds to a 10-3 rout. Brandon Phillips went 3-for-4 with two RBI and Joey Votto hit a pair of doubles and scored a run for Cincy, winners in seven of its last eight.

J.J. Hoover (1-0) picked up his first major league win after shutting down Colorado in 1 1/3 innings. Cincinnati's bullpen combined for 5 1/3 shutout innings.

"Tonight we were all just trying to go out there and do our jobs," Hoover said. "We give the team a chance to stay in the game if we come in behind or keep the game where it's at if we come in with the lead. We're just trying to do our jobs."

Tyler Colvin had two hits and a pair of RBI and Wil Nieves drove in a run for the Rockies, losers in seven of nine.

Jeremy Guthrie (2-3) was pegged with the loss after giving up six runs -- two earned -- on 10 hits over five innings.

Hoping for a better effort tonight, the Rockies will turn to 49-year-old lefty Jamie Moyer, who will be trying to get back on track after his worst outing of the season. Moyer lasted just 3 2/3 innings on Monday in Miami, as the Marlins hammered him for six runs to drop him to 2-4 on the year to go along with a 4.99 ERA.

After ending April with a 3.14 ERA, Moyer has allowed 17 runs in 20 innings since.

"It's hard to win when you get 3 2/3 from your starter and over 100 pitches," Colorado manager Jim Tracy said after Moyer's most recent turn.

Moyer has faced the Reds just nine times (eight starts) and is 2-4 with a 6.00 ERA.

Colorado took four of seven from the Reds last season.