(Sports Network) - Skidding former ace Aaron Harang takes the mound in search of a first win in more than a month tonight, when the Cincinnati Reds head to Progressive Field for the opener of the "Battle of Ohio" interleague series with the Cleveland Indians.

These two rivals squared off in late-May, as Cincinnati took two of three after winning five of the six matchups in 2008.

A 16-game winner in 2006 and 2007, Harang slumped to just six wins last season, but was 5-4 with a 3.36 earned run average in 2009 after an 8-5 defeat of the Houston Astros on May 25.

He's had nothing but tough luck since, however, dropping three decisions in five starts while allowing 14 runs on 36 hits in 29 innings.

The most recent disappointment came June 21 against the Chicago White Sox, against whom Harang lost a 4-1 verdict after surrendering eight hits and three runs in seven innings, in spite of walking none and striking out seven.

Harang, who is 1-4 in seven road starts this season, has beaten Cleveland three times in eight career starts, losing only once while posting a 2.24 ERA in 52 1/3 innings.

For the Indians, left-hander Jeremy Sowers comes in seeking the same thing as Harang - his first win since May 25.

A loser in his first two appearances of the season against Boston and the White Sox, Sowers got within one of .500 against Tampa Bay after he allowed only three hits in five scoreless innings of what turned out to be an 11-10 Indians victory.

He, again like Harang, has gone 0-3 with two no-decisions in five subsequent starts, dropping his most recent effort, 6-2, after being touched for seven hits and six runs in 4 1/3 innings against the Chicago Cubs.

Overall, in 39 1/3 innings, Sowers has allowed 43 hits and 26 earned runs.

He is winless in four career starts against the Reds and has won just once in five home appearances in 2009.

On Thursday in Toronto, Joey Votto went 4-for-5 with a double, homer and three runs batted in as the Reds edged the Blue Jays, 7-5, in the finale of a three- game interleague series at Rogers Centre.

Jay Bruce chipped in with a two-run double and Willy Taveras had three hits with an RBI and run scored for the Reds, who salvaged one win in the series and snapped a four-game slide.

Johnny Cueto (7-4) picked up the win after allowing five runs on as many hits. He struck out four and walked three. Francisco Cordero earned his 18th save of the season with a scoreless ninth inning.

In Pittsburgh, Andrew McCutchen singled in Jack Wilson with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning to boost the Pirates over Cleveland, 3-2, in the rubber match of a three-game series.

Cliff Lee yielded four hits and two runs in seven frames in the start for the Indians, who lost for the eighth time in nine games.

Victor Martinez hit a solo homer and scored both Cleveland runs.

Wilson singled to left and pinch-hitter Eric Hinske went the other way for a base hit to left field to start the ninth inning against Matt Herges (2-1). McCutchen then singled on a soft liner to left field.



Copyright 2009 The Sports Network
All rights reserved

 Email To Friend