Reds 4 - 2 Diamondbacks
Final
  for this game

Latos tries to start new streak for Reds in Arizona

Jun 23, 2013 - 2:19 PM (Sports Network) - Cincinnati Reds starter Mat Latos couldn't keep his unbeaten streak intact the last time out, so he'll try to begin a new one Sunday against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Latos put his team in an early hole in Tuesday's 4-0 loss to Pittsburgh and gave up three runs in the first inning. He managed to settle down after his early struggles, but it wasn't enough to keep a streak of 21 regular-season starts without a loss intact.

"I was aggravated with myself," Latos said. "I didn't throw too well in the bullpen and kind of took it into the first. I beat myself today. It's always hard when you put your team in a 3-0 hole."

The right-hander hadn't lost a regular-season game since last August and set a club record in avoiding the loss column. Now Latos is 6-1 in 15 starts and his ERA went up slightly from 3.08 to 3.20. He is 2-1 in six career starts against the Diamondbacks and the former Padre owns a 2-0 mark in eight road bouts.

Set to counter Latos will be Arizona right-hander Randall Delgado.

Delgado has no record and a 4.00 earned run average in two games (1 start) this season and previously toed the rubber in a 3-2 win versus Miami on Tuesday. He lasted seven innings and gave up two runs and eight hits with six strikeouts and no walks. Delgado, who was called up from Triple-A Reno for a spot-start, has not issued a walk in nine innings pitched this season.

In two career starts against the Reds, Delgado is 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA.

The D'backs used some late-inning dramatics in Saturday's 4-3 win, as Jason Kubel delivered a two-run single in the bottom of the ninth to win it much to the chagrin of Reds manager Dusty Baker.

"You just hate to lose it like that, hate to lose it late," Baker said.

Arizona starter Patrick Corbin was in line to become the first Diamondbacks pitcher to start a season 10-0 with his team taking a 2-1 lead into the ninth. Heath Bell, however, issued a leadoff walk to Brandon Phillips in front of Jay Bruce, who belted a two-run homer to right-center field.

"Obviously I'd like to get my 10th win out of the way, but we came back and ended up getting the win," Corbin said.

Gerardo Parra hit a two-run homer for the NL West-leading D'backs, who have won four in a row since losing four straight. Arizona is three games ahead of San Francisco in the division.

The Diamondbacks will start a 10-game eastern trip Tuesday against Washington, Atlanta and the New York Mets.

Bruce has been knocking the cover off the baseball lately and has homered in four straight games, including twice on Saturday. Bruce is batting .278 with eight homers and nine RBI in his last nine games for the Reds, who sit third in the NL Central at 3 1/2 games off the lead. Pittsburgh is only two games behind St. Louis.

Mike Leake started for the Reds and allowed two runs in eight innings.

"He did great," Bruce said of Leake. "He pitched a great game. We just have to play better as a team. I think Leake has arguably been our best pitcher, and the most consistent pitcher all year."

Aroldis Chapman was dealt the loss for permitting the go-ahead runs.

Cincinnati has dropped three in a row and four of five games, and will also visit Oakland and Texas on this eight-game road trip.

The Diamondbacks and Reds are meeting for the first time since Cincinnati won five of seven matchups a season ago.






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