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Late-inning rally has Reds poised for series sweep

Aug 5, 2007 - 2:53 PM Cincinnati (47-64) at Pittsburgh (44-64) 1:35 pm EDT

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- The Cincinnati Reds have been the class of the National League in home runs. They used that skill to give them a chance for a rare sweep.

Cincinnati will aim for its first sweep in more than two weeks and third of the season when it wraps up its weekend series with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday.

The Reds completed a 9-8 victory in the 10th inning on Saturday behind two key home runs, adding its NL-leading total of 150. Jeff Keppinger tied the score at 7-7 in the ninth inning with a solo homer off Pirates closer Matt Capps before Adam Dunn added a two-run shot in the top of the 10th.

Dunn's eventual game-winner was his 30th home run of the season, tying him with Philadelphia's Ryan Howard for third place in majors. He has now homered in three straight games.

In order to complete the sweep, Bronson Arroyo (4-12, 4.72) will need to turn around his losing ways.

The righthander, who is tied for second in the NL in losses, is coming off his worst outing of the season, giving up seven runs and seven hits in just 1 2/3 innings of a 7-2 loss at the Washington Nationals on Wednesday.

Pittsburgh, which has lost six of its last eight games, will send Tom Gorzelanny (9-6, 3.55 ERA) to the mound.

The 25-year-old Gorzelanny will be making his first appearance since experiencing stiffness in his left arm against the New York Mets on July 25. The lefthander ended up lasting just 2 1/3 innings, giving up six runs and seven hits in what would end up being a 6-3 loss.