Washington @ Cincinnati preview
Great American Ball Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 19, 2010 ) Washington 2, Cincinnati 7
If the absence of Scott Rolen is supposed to slow down the Cincinnati Reds, they apparently have yet to be informed.
The Reds look to win for the third time in four games without their All-Star third baseman when they take on the Washington Nationals on Tuesday.
Rolen injured his right hamstring in Friday's 3-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies. The veteran then came down with the flu, which helped keep him on the sideline for Cincinnati's next two games - a win and a loss.
On Monday, Rolen received a cortisone shot but it was announced he would be out indefinitely, and the Reds are contemplating placing him on the disabled list. However, the club did not miss his bat, collecting 10 hits en route to a 7-2 triumph over the Nationals.
Miguel Cairo, Rolen's replacement at third base, had an impressive night, belting a solo home run in the sixth inning and adding an RBI single in the eighth. Jonny Gomes also homered, Drew Stubbs went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and starting pitcher Johnny Cueto hit a two-run single as Cincinnati won for just the third time in eight games.
The victory ended the Reds' three-game home losing streak against the Nationals, who have dropped three games in a row and five of six. Washington fell to 1-3 on its 10-game road trip and has won just six of its last 31 contests away from home.
Tuesday's game will be a rematch of rookie starters.
Luis Atilano will get the call for the Nationals as he is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Syracuse. The 25-year old has struggled of late, however, losing five of his last six decisions.
On July 8, Atilano yielded four runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings of a 7-1 loss to the San Diego Padres.
Atilano, who is 4-2 with a 4.03 ERA in eight road starts, faced Cincinnati on June 5, allowing just two runs - one earned - in seven innings but still suffered the loss in a 5-1 setback.
Atilano's opponent in that game was fellow youngster Mike Leake, who also will be his counterpart in this one. Leake outdueled Atilano in their June meeting, limiting Washington to an unearned run over seven innings en route to the win.
The 22-year old Leake is 1-0 in his last four starts, including a no-decision against the Philadelphia Phillies on July 9. Leake entered the ninth inning with a six-run lead but recorded just one out as the Phillies rallied to forge a tie and ultimately win in extra frames.
Leake, who surrendered five runs and nine hits in the 9-7 loss, became the first pitcher in major league history to have started two games in his career in which his team has lost after leading by six runs or more entering the bottom of the ninth. He also watched Cincinnati blow a big lead in the ninth and lose to Atlanta on May 20.
Entering Tuesday's game with a 3-1 record and 4.19 ERA in 10 home starts, Leake is looking to become the first Reds rookie to begin a season with a 7-1 mark since Wayne Simpson accomplished the feat in 1970.