Tue May 6 10:37:06 2008

Comment | Email | Print

Zambrano, Harang square off in Cincy

---

(Sports Network) - Right-hander Carlos Zambrano will attempt to beat Cincinnati for the second time this season tonight when the Chicago Cubs visit the Reds for the second of a four-game series at Great American Ball Park.

Zambrano picked up a 12-3 victory against Cincinnati at Wrigley Field on April 16, the first of his four consecutive starts without a loss. He's pitched at least seven innings three times during that stretch and has allowed just 25 hits and four earned runs in 27 1/3 innings.

Lifetime against the Reds, Zambrano is 11-9 in 28 games - 24 starts - with a 3.35 earned run average in 158 1/3 innings.

Cincinnati ace Aaron Harang will attempt to end a string of bad luck that's seen him go winless in four starts since April 10. He's 0-3 with a no-decision in the skid, despite having pitched at least six innings in all four starts and having allowed just 11 earned runs in 27 1/3 innings.

His last victory, and lone win of 2008, came April 10 at Milwaukee, when he allowed five hits and a run in eight innings of the Reds' 4-1 triumph.

He is 8-4 in 16 career starts against the Cubs with a 4.62 ERA in 101 1/3 innings.

On Monday, Rookie Johnny Cueto put together a solid performance on the mound, as the Reds survived a late scare from the Cubs and held on for a 5-3 win. Adam Dunn hit a two-run homer, while Jeff Keppinger drove in two runs for the Reds, who snapped a five-game skid, despite mustering just six hits.

Cueto (2-3) allowed three runs on six hits, walked two and struck out eight over six innings to pick up the win. Francisco Cordero overcame a shaky ninth inning to nail down his fifth save of the season.

Ryan Dempster (4-1) gave up five unearned runs on four hits and fanned seven in six innings to absorb the loss for Chicago, which has dropped eight of its last 11 outings.

Geovany Soto finished 3-for-3 with a walk, a run scored and an RBI, while Ryan Theriot was 2-for-4 with a double and a run batted in.

Chicago won two of three meetings with Reds at Wrigley Field last month and is 7-4 in its last 11 matchups against Cincinnati. The Cubs went 5-4 in their nine 2007 visits to Great American Ball Park.