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Cubs look to increase NL Central lead

Sep 17, 2007 - 1:59 PM Cincinnati (68-81) at Chicago Cubs (78-72) 8:05 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Coming off a successful seven-game road trip, the Chicago Cubs look to maintain their slim lead in the National League Central as they begin a three-game series with the Cincinnati Reds on Monday.

Chicago downed the Cardinals, 4-0, on Sunday on the strength of a solid performance from starter Jason Marquis, helping the Cubs go 5-2 on their latest road trip through Houston and St. Louis. As a result, the Cubs hold a one-game division lead over second-place Milwaukee (76-72) in the division.

To keep the Cubs going, the Cubs will turn to Rich Hill (9-8, 3.91 ERA), who is coming off a win on Wednesday in a 3-2 triumph over Houston. He permitted just one run and three hits with seven strikeouts over seven frames to break a two-game string of poor outings in which he had allowed 11 runs over 11 innings.

In six career games against the Reds, Hill is 2-2 with a 4.30 ERA.

Bronson Arroyo (9-14, 4.31) will look to win for the third time in as many starts. He allowed just one run and six hits over six innings in a 5-1 victory on Wednesday - his fourth win in his last five decisions.

The righthander is 4-5 with a 2.76 ERA in 13 career games - 11 starts - against the Cubs.