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Struggling Harang takes mound as Reds host Pirates

Jun 30, 2008 - 12:52 PM Pittsburgh (38-43) at Cincinnati (38-45) 7:10 p.m. EDT

CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- Struggling Aaron Harang will be on the mound as the Cincinnati Reds host the Pittsburgh Pirates in the opener of a three-game set on Monday.

After going 16-6 in 2007, the Reds' ace just can't seem to get on track this season.

Harang (3-10, 4.51 ERA) has allowed five runs in each of his previous two starts and is 1-3 with a 6.52 ERA in the month of June. The righthander could not hold a 5-1 lead as he gave up five runs in 5 2/3 innings at Toronto on Wednesday. He did not factor in the decision as the Reds pulled out a 6-5 victory.

The Pirates will counter with Paul Maholm (5-5, 4.41), who had given up three runs in two-plus innings against the New York Yankees in his last start before rain postponed the game.

Maholm has won his last three decisions and gave up three runs over seven innings against Toronto on June 21, earning the win as the Pirates defeated the Blue Jays, 7-3.

Pittsburgh dropped two out of three to the Tampa Bay Rays over the weekend, while Cincinnati won the final two contests of a three-game series at the Cleveland Indians.