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Reds, Rockies set for series finale

Jun 5, 2013 - 7:18 PM (Sports Network) - The Cincinnati Reds had hoped to have ace Johnny Cueto on the mound Wednesday for their finale against the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park.

However, the right-hander was scratched shortly before the start of the contest with an unknown ailment. In his place will be righty Pedro Villarreal, who will be making his first big league start.

The Reds won the opener behind starter Bronson Arroyo, but lost the chance to make it two straight on Tuesday when Troy Tulowitzki came through with the go- ahead two-run home run in the eighth inning, helping the Rockies edge the Reds, 5-4.

Jonathan Herrera contributed three hits and two RBI, while Dexter Fowler added a run-scoring hit for the Rockies, who snapped a six-game losing streak against the Reds dating back to last season.

"A big-time home run by a big-time player," Colorado manager Walt Weiss said. "It doesn't get any more clutch than that."

Josh Outman (2-0) recorded the final two outs in the seventh to snag the win, while Rex Brothers shut the door in the ninth for his second save.

Ryan Hanigan drove in two runs and Todd Frazier went 2-for-4 -- his fourth straight two-hit game -- with one RBI and two runs scored for the Reds.

Homer Bailey bounced back from his worst outing of the year, surrendering three runs on six hits with seven strikeouts over seven frames.

He was primed for the win until Sam LeCure (1-1) dished a full-count, belt- high fastball that Tulowitzki slammed to left center following a walk to Carlos Gonzalez.

"Today just wasn't my day," LeCure said. "I've been throwing the ball well, and people kept reminding me of that, and I kept saying, 'Someday, it's going to end.' It didn't have to be today."

The Rockies will rely Wednesday on veteran Jon Garland, who meets Cincinnati for the sixth time in his 365th big-league outing.

The 33-year-old, acquired by the Rockies just before the start of the season, was 3-2 after a 9-3 win over Tampa Bay on May 4, but is winless in five starts since.

He lost four in a row between May 10 and May 26, dropping decisions to St. Louis, the Chicago Cubs, Arizona and San Francisco while his earned run average swelled from 4.75 to 5.53.

He got a no-decision in his most recent start on May 31, after allowing five runs in five innings of a game the Rockies lost, 7-5, to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Colorado is 4-7 in games he's pitched.

The Reds won five of six from the Rockies in 2012 to tie the all-time series record at 81-81 since 1993. Colorado won the 2011 series, 4-3.