Sun Jul 6 11:59:04 2008

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Volquez leads Reds vs. Nationals

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(Sports Network) - The Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals will wrap up a four-game series this afternoon at Great American Ball Park.

The Reds have won the first three tests of this series, including Saturday's 3-2 victory. Jerry Hairston Jr. singled to start the ninth, stole second, and scored the winning run on a Brandon Phillips single to lead the way.

Hairston was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and Phillips had two hits and two runs batted in. Francisco Cordero was handed the win despite his fourth blown save of the season, having allowed a run on one hit and a walk in the ninth.

Reds starter Josh Fogg, just off the disabled list, tossed six innings of one- run ball on six hits in taking Aaron Harang's spot in the rotation. Harang had to be skipped after experiencing stiffness in his right forearm.

Stud pitcher Edinson Volquez gets the nod for the Reds on Sunday. He is 10-3 with a 2.24 ERA in 18 games (17 starts) this season. Volquez last pitched on Tuesday versus Pittsburgh, allowing three runs in 5 1/3 innings of a 6-5 setback for the no-decision.

Volquez has never faced Washington in his career.

The Nationals have lost four in a row. In Saturday's setback to the Reds, Nationals starter Tim Redding equaled Fogg with six innings of one-run ball. Redding helped himself with an RBI single in recording his ninth straight no- decision. Jesus Flores tied the game with a sacrifice fly in the road ninth to record the other RBI for Washington, which has five of six games overall.

Joel Hanrahan took the loss for Washington in relief.

Rookie Collin Balester gets the ball for the Nats on Sunday. He made his debut on Tuesday at Florida, allowing one run in five frames of a 9-6 triumph. The righty had a no-hitter through four innings in South Beach.

He will face the Reds for the first time today.

Washington took six of seven from the Reds last season.