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Lilly eyes to extend impressive winning stretch

Aug 15, 2007 - 2:44 PM Cincinnati (51-67) at Chi Cubs (60-58) 8:05 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Ted Lilly attempts to continue his winning ways on Wednesday when the Chicago Cubs continue their three-game series with the Cincinnati Reds.

While the Cubs went a major league-best 25-10 from June 22-August 1 to tie National League Central Division leader Milwaukee (62-57), they have dropped nine of 12 to fall 1 1/2 games off the pace.

However, Lilly (13-5, 3.51 ERA) has had been apart of those struggles, winning eight of his last nine starts.

The lefthander, who permitted two runs or less in six of those nine outings, kept the the Colorado Rockies in check on Thursday, allowing two runs and five hits over six innings in a 10-2 win.

Lilly's track record suggests he should be line for another good outing, as he is 1-1 with a 1.38 ERA in two career starts against the Reds.

Fellow lefthander Phil Dumatrait (0-1, 7.71) will make his third career start for Cincinnati still searching for his first career win. He yielded two runs and seven hits over six innings but did not factor into the decision in Thursday's 5-4, 11-inning loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Dumatrait will be facing the Cubs for the first time.