(Sports Network) - Second-year right-hander Johnny Cueto seeks a return to early-season success tonight, when the Cincinnati Reds visit the Toronto Blue Jays and try to avoid a series sweep in the third and final game of their midweek interleague set at Rogers Centre.

Cincinnati dropped the opener on Tuesday, 7-5, then returned Wednesday to lose the second game, 8-2.

Just 9-14 in 31 starts as a rookie last season, Cueto won three of five starts in May and had taken his first two in June before his last two performances, in which he's gotten a no-decision and a loss.

In those two games -- against Kansas City and the Chicago White Sox -- he's allowed 17 hits and 10 runs (five earned) in just 10 2/3 innings.

Cueto, who's never faced Toronto, is 5-2 in eight starts on the road this season, posting a 1.53 earned run average in 53 innings.

For the Blue Jays, rookie southpaw and fellow youngster Brett Cecil makes the sixth start of his major-league career.

The 22-year-old Maryland native, who'll celebrate a birthday on July 2, was outstanding in his initial three starts, defeating Cleveland and the Chicago White Sox while surrendering 17 hits and four runs in 20 innings.

He's fallen back to earth somewhat since, getting tagged for 19 hits and 11 runs in 11 2/3 innings while losing at Boston and getting a no-decision against Washington.

The Boston and Washington games were a month apart, with the first coming after Cecil's initial call-up from Triple-A Las Vegas and the second when he was brought up again this past weekend after an injury to staff ace Roy Halladay.

Cecil, a supplemental draft pick of the Blue Jays in 2007, is 1-0 in two home starts with a 3.00 ERA in 12 innings.

In Wednesday's game, Aaron Hill went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer and drove in three runs to lead the Blue Jays.

Vernon Wells and Adam Lind both went 2-for-4 with a homer and drove in a pair of runs for the Blue Jays, who have won three straight and six of their last eight. Scott Rolen drove in a run in the win, while Marco Scutaro had a double and scored three times.

Scott Richmond (6-4) got the win after going seven innings and giving up two runs on as many hits.

Jonny Gomes had two of the four hits -- including a solo homer -- for the Reds, who have dropped four in a row. Jerry Hairston Jr. drove in the other run in the setback.

Reds starter Bronson Arroyo (8-6) was roughed up for seven runs -- six earned -- on eight hits in 3 2/3 innings.

Toronto won two of three from the Reds last season.









Copyright 2009 The Sports Network
All rights reserved

 Email To Friend