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Reds look to secure series split with Pirates

Aug 30, 2007 - 2:18 PM Cincinnati (61-72) at Pittsburgh (59-73) 7:05 pm EDT

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) - Rebounding nicely on Wednesday from being on the wrong end of a doubleheader sweep the day before, the Cincinnati Reds will now aim for a series split when they conclude a four-game set with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday.

Dropping both games of Tuesday's doubleheader by a total of three runs, the Reds bounced back behind ace Aaron Harang, who tossed a two-hitter in an 8-0 victory for his fourth career shutout.

The win was Cincinnati's seventh win in nine games as it continues to jockey for fourth place in the National League Central with the Pirates.

The Reds' fate in the series finale will rest in the hands of Matt Belisle (7-8, 5.39 ERA), who has enjoyed a great deal of success against Thursday's opponent. He is 6-1 with a 3.27 ERA in 16 career games - four starts - against the the Pirates.

The righthander is looking to win a career-high third straight decision after Saturday's 11-7 victory over the Florida Marlins. He allowed four runs and eight hits with a career-high nine strikeouts over seven-plus innings.

The Pirates will turn to Matt Morris (8-8, 4.40) to secure the team's fourth straight series win. The veteran righthander picked up his first winning decision since joining Pittsburgh at the trading deadline on Saturday, yielding a run and four hits over six innings of a 4-1 triumph over the Houston Astros.

The win snapped a 12-start winless streak for Morris, who is 8-6 with a 4.15 ERA in 23 career games - 21 starts - against the Reds.