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Harden takes the mound as Cubs open series against Reds

Aug 19, 2008 - 12:50 PM Cincinnati (55-70) at Chi Cubs (76-48), 8:05 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Rich Harden takes the mound in search of his first home win as a member of the Chicago Cubs when the team hosts the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday.

Harden (7-2, 2.17 ERA) has been tremendous in his six starts for the Cubs since being acquired from the Oakland Athletics before the non-waiver trade deadline. But he has yet to record a win at Wrigley Field, where the Cubs have gone a league-best 45-17 this year.

The 26-year-old has had trouble being efficient in those starts. Despite going 2-1 with a 1.80 ERA as a Cub, he has lasted at least seven innings just twice.

Johnny Cueto (8-11, 4.90) counters for the Reds, who have dropped nine of 12.

Cueto seeks a second consecutive winning start after allowing one run and four hits with seven strikeouts in five innings of a 3-1 road victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday.

That came after the right-hander went 0-3 with a 6.17 ERA while allowing seven home runs in 35 innings over his last six starts.

In his last 10 starts, however, he's held opponents to three runs or less seven times.