Reds hand ball to rookie Leake vs. Nationals

Baseball Betting Lines

07/20/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Reds are going to be careful with how many innings rookie Mike Leake racks up this season. They might be tempted to take the leash off tonight given how well he pitched against the Nationals last time.

Leake will try to stretch his unbeaten streak to five straight starts this evening when Cincinnati continues a four-game series with Washington at Great American Ball Park.

The eighth overall pick of the 2009 draft, Leake skipped the minors and jumped right into the Reds' rotation this season, going 6-1 with a 3.53 earned run average over the first half while throwing 109 2/3 innings. That includes a victory against the Nationals on June 5 as he limited the club to just one unearned run on seven hits over seven innings, striking out five batters without a walk.

Though he hasn't lost since June 16, the 22-year-old righty is just 1-0 with a 5.13 ERA over his unbeaten run. Leake did not get a decision on July 9 versus the Phillies, hurling 8 1/3 innings while giving up five runs -- four in the ninth inning -- on nine hits.

The Reds have won three of four since the All-Star break and took last night's series opener, 7-2. Johnny Cueto allowed just two runs and four hits over six innings, winning his ninth game of the season while lowering his season ERA to 3.39. Cueto has allowed two runs or less in each of his last six starts.

"He's learning to back off the mound, take the ball out of the air some, regroup and get his composure back," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "He's learning and he's winning while he's learning."

Jonny Gomes and Miguel Cairo both connected on solo homers, with Gomes ending with three hits and three runs scored. Drew Stubbs added a two-run double for the Reds, who remained a half-game back of first-place St. Louis in the National League Central despite playing without Scott Rolen for a third straight game.

The All-Star third baseman had been battling the flu, but also revealed he has a right hamstring injury. He received a cortisone shot and could land on the disabled list.

Even without Rolen, the Reds put up six runs and six hits over J.D. Martin's 5 1/3-inning outing for the Nationals, who have lost three in a row and five of six.

Washington was coming off back-to-back shutouts versus Florida and has only scored eight runs over its last five games. Nyjer Morgan and Cristian Guzman had one RBI each last night.

"As a manager that's what you do, you worry," Washington manager Jim Riggleman said of the recent offensive slump. "You never take anything for granted. I'm positive we'll come out here [Tuesday] and try to win a ballgame."

The Nats recalled right-hander Luis Atilano last night from Triple-A Syracuse and he will start tonight.

Atilano is 6-6 with a 4.85 ERA and he lost his final two starts before getting sent down to the minors. He last pitched on July 8 versus the Padres and was charged with four runs on eight hits over 5 1/3 innings of a 7-1 setback.

The 25-year-old made his first career start versus the Reds on June 5, squaring off with Leake, and gave up two runs, only one earned, over seven innings in a tough-luck loss.

The Reds took two of three in Washington on June 4-6, but it was the Nationals who took three of four at Cincinnati last season.

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