Arizona @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 15, 2010 ) Arizona 5, Cincinnati 7

If his last start is any indication, Edinson Volquez is back on the right track. With another victory, the Cincinnati Reds can say the same.

The Reds look to end their homestand on a high note Thursday as they host the Arizona Diamondbacks in the finale of their four-game series at Great American Ball Park.

Cincinnati won two of the first three games of the set, including Wednesday's 7-5 triumph in which it grabbed a five-run lead after two innings and withstood a comeback attempt. Drew Stubbs capped a four-run rally in the first inning with a two-run homer and Joey Votto added an RBI single in the second for a 5-0 bulge.

After Arizona got within 5-4, the Reds scored two in the eighth to create some breathing room. The runs proved crucial as the Diamondbacks plated one in the ninth and had a runner on second when right fielder Jay Bruce hauled in a deep fly ball hit by Adam LaRoche that had a chance to be a game-tying homer.

The victory was the Reds' 12th in their last 14 meetings with Arizona and gave them a 4-2 mark on their seven-game homestand. More importantly, it helped increase Cincinnati's lead in the National League Central to eight games over St. Louis, which dropped a 7-3 decision to the Chicago Cubs.

Cincinnati's magic number to clinch the division and its first playoff appearance since 1995 was reduced to 10.

Volquez will get a chance to lower that number even more, as well as to prove his recent struggles are behind him.

Despite being 0-1 with a 7.30 ERA over his last three starts, Volquez was impressive in his most recent outing, limiting Pittsburgh to one single over seven innings on Saturday while recording 10 strikeouts, but was forced to settle for a no-decision in Cincinnati's 5-4 triumph thanks to poor effort by the bullpen.

Prior to that outing, Volquez surrendered 10 runs in 5 1/3 innings over two starts, including one against Arizona, to earn himself a brief demotion to the minors and jeopardize his chances of being included in the postseason rotation.

In two career starts against the Diamondbacks, Volquez has posted a 5.91 ERA without a decision. On August 18, the 27-year old allowed five runs and six hits in 4 2/3 innings of the Reds' 11-7 comeback win at Chase Field.

Getting the call for Arizona is Rodrigo Lopez, who yielded three runs and eight hits over five frames in the matchup against Volquez in August. He also received a no-decision and is 1-0 with a 6.10 ERA in five career starts vs. the Reds.

Lopez is seeking his first win since beating Florida on July 8. The journeyman right-hander has gone 0-7 with a 6.53 ERA over his last 11 outings.

The 34-year old pitched well against Colorado on Saturday, however, giving up two runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings but still suffering the loss in a 2-1 setback at Coors Field.