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Rockies start 10-game trip at Cincinnati

Jul 25, 2008 - 10:11 AM Colorado (45-58) at Cincinnati (50-53) 7:10 p.m. EDT

CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- A pair off All-Stars will duel when the Colorado Rockies face the Cincinnati Reds on Friday.

Reds' right-handed sensation Edinson Volquez (12-3, 2.49) will take on the Rockies for the first time. The 25-year-old, who leads the National League in ERA at 2.49, allowed a season-high eight hits, surrendering four runs, in five innings last time out against the New York Mets.

Volquez is 6-0 in 10 starts at The Great American Ballpark for Cincinnati (50-53), which will look to get within two games of .500 for the first time since June 6. As the July 31 trade deadline approaches, the Reds will have to decide whether to be buyers, sellers, or stand pat.

Aaron Cook (12-6, 3.58) takes the hill for Colorado (45-58), which finds itself six games behind the first-place Arizona Diamondbacks (50-51) despite being 13 games under .500.

Colorado scored 53 runs on their recent seven-game homestand, posting a 6-1 record.

To gain ground, the Rockies will have to change their fortune away from Coors Field. They are a major league worst 14-36 away from home and have won two of their last 13 road games. Colorado, which begins a 10-game trip, hits .238 as a team on the road, while boasting a .292 average at home.