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Volquez, Reds seek to start new streak at home

May 30, 2008 - 1:36 PM Atlanta Braves (29-25) at Cincinnati (25-29)

CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- Edinson Volquez takes the mound as the Cincinnati Reds aim to bounce back from their first home loss in more than three weeks in the opener of a three-game series with the Atlanta Braves.

Cincinnati was held to just two hits by former Red Phil Dumatrait as the Pittsburgh Pirates snapped the Reds nine-game home winning streak with a 7-2 victory on Thursday.

It was Cincinnati's first home loss since a 3-0 setback to Chicago on May 6. Part of the reason may have been a fatigued Aaron Harang. Harang struck out nine in four innings of Sunday's 12-9 18-inning loss to San Diego.

Volquez (7-2, 1.31 ERA) took the loss in that game when he allowed a walk-off, three-run homer to Adrian Gonzalez - all three runs were unearned. The righthander started against San Diego on Friday and yielded one run and two hits in six innings with a season-high 12 strikeouts, but did not receive a decision in a 3-2 win.

The Reds will aim to start a new winning streak against the Braves, who are awful on the road. Atlanta is just 7-18 away from Turner Field - tied for the second worst mark in baseball. Tom Glavine (2-2, 4.76) takes the ball for the Braves. The lefthander was rocked for six runs and five hits in 4 2/3 innings of a 9-3 loss to Arizona on Sunday.