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Cubs, Reds start a three-game series

Jul 27, 2007 - 1:01 PM Chicago Cubs (53-47) at Cincinnati (44-59) 7:10 pm EDT

CINCINNATI (Ticker) - The Chicago Cubs will finish up their six-game road trip with a weekend series against the Cincinnati Reds starting on Friday.

Rich Hill (6-6, 3.58 ERA) takes the ball for the Cubs, who have won 21 of their last 29 contest in remaining two games behind Milwaukee (56-46) in the National League Central Division.

Hill tossed six effective innings but did not figure into the decision of a 3-2 setback to the Arizona Diamondbacks last Saturday. He is 3-4 away from the Windy City this season.

The 27-year-old lefthander was stellar in his previous outings against the Reds, throwing seven scoreless innings for the win on April 14 at Wrigley Field.

Cincinnati's Bronson Arroyo (4-11, 4.58) is trying to avoid setting a career high for losses. In his last start, Arroyo gave up four runs and eight hits over six innings for a 9-3 setback at Florida.

An All-Star for the first time last season, the righthander is just 4-5 with a 3.07 ERA in 12 career appearances - 10 starts - when facing the Cubs.

Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. continued his march toward 600 home runs, hitting his 588th blast in Thursday's 6-5 triumph over Milwaukee.