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Athletics' Gaudin looks to keep winning streak going

Jun 19, 2007 - 1:42 PM Cincinnati (27-44) at Oakland (38-31) 10:05 pm EDT

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- The Oakland Athletics seem to play their best baseball when Chad Gaudin pitches.

Gaudin takes the mound on Tuesday when the Athletics host the Cincinnati Reds in the middle contest of a three-game set.

Oakland has won in each of the righthander's last eight outings and is 11-3 in games Gaudin (6-1, 2.85 ERA) has started this season.

Although Gaudin allowed a season-high five runs in just 4 1/3 innings against the Houston Astros in his last start on Thursday, the Athletics battled back to win the game, 6-5, in extra innings.

Rookie Homer Bailey (1-0, 5.73) makes the third start of his career for the Reds, who have dropped five of their last six games.

The 21-year-old Bailey allowed five runs and seven hits in six innings in his last start on Thursday against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The Reds' 2004 first-round draft selection, Bailey has not allowed a home run over his first 11 innings.

Joe Blanton pitched eight strong innings and Mark Ellis hit a three-run homer as the Athletics cruised past the Reds, 6-1, on Monday.

Ellis is batting .323 (21-for-65) with six doubles, a triple, four home runs, 14 RBI and seven multi-hit games in 16 games since the birth of his first child on June 1.

Nick Swisher added three hits and an RBI for the Athletics, who improved their all-time interleague record to 112-77. Only the New York Yankees (112-74) own a better record in interleague action since it began in 1997.