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Astros look to stay unbeaten vs. Reds

Jul 30, 2008 - 10:12 AM Cincinnati (50-58) at Houston (50-56) 8:05 p.m. EDT

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- The Houston Astros will look to stay unbeaten against the last-place Cincinnati Reds when they go for a series sweep on Wednesday.

The Astros are 4-0 against their division-rivals, and will have 10 games left with the Reds after this series.

Edinson Volquez (12-4, 2.77) gets the start for the Reds. The 25-year-old, who is third in the National League in ERA, is coming off his shortest start. The righthanded phenom lasted four innings on July 25 against the Colorado Rockies, allowing five runs on seven hits and two walks in a 7-2 loss.

It is the first career start for Volquez against the Astros.

Cincinnati has lost five straight, the fourth time it has gone on a skid of five games, and will look to avoid losing six straight for the first time since September.

Houston counters with Wandy Rodriguez (6-3, 3.18), who is 3-2 in eight home starts with a 2.54 ERA. The lefthander has won his last three starts, the first time he has done so since April 2006.

In seven career starts against the Reds, the 29-year-old is 2-2 with a 5.59 ERA. Ken Griffey Jr. is 9-for-12 in his career against Rodriguez, including two homers and five RBI.

Rodriguez takes the hill following a dominant performance by righthander Brian Moehler. The 36-year-old came within one out of his first complete game since 2000. The veteran allowed two runs on seven hits and one walk, striking out three in 8 2/3 innings in the Astros' 6-2 win.