Texas-born lefty Zach Duke can finish his season with
consecutive victories tonight when the Pittsburgh Pirates visit Great American
Ball Park in the second portion of a three-game set with the Cincinnati Reds.
The Pirates won the opener, 3-1, on Friday to ensure they will avoid a 100-
loss season.
Duke, a 26-year-old former 20th-round draft choice in 2001, had lost four
straight decisions between August 28 and September 22 before breaking through
with an 11-1 defeat of the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday.
In the win, he allowed four hits and a run in 8 2/3 innings, walking one and
striking out six.
His last win prior had been against the Reds on August 22, a 12-2 decision.
Duke was subsequently beaten twice by the Reds, dropping his career mark
against Cincinnati to 3-5 in nine starts. Duke is 3-8 in 15 road starts this
season.
For the Reds, righty Johnny Cueto can finished .500 for the season with a win.
The 23-year-old Dominican was 10-10 after a 10-4 defeat of the Pirates on
September 22, in which he allowed nine hits and two runs in five innings.
He dropped a 3-2 verdict at Houston five days later to fall a game below the
50/50 threshold.
Cueto is 5-2 in seven starts against the Pirates in two big-league seasons. He
is 3-5 in 12 home starts in 2009.
On Friday, Andy LaRoche went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs batted in and Daniel
McCutchen was solid in 6 1/3 innings to pick up his first win in the majors,
as the Pirates edged the Reds.
Lastings Milledge went 2-for-4 with a solo homer for the Pirates, who have won
three in a row and five of six. Daniel McCutchen and Andrew McCutchen each
scored a run for the victors.
Daniel McCutchen (1-2) gave up one run on four hits with five strikeouts and
two walks to get his first MLB win in his sixth start. Matt Capps worked
around a one-out double in the ninth to pick up his 27th save of the year.
Wladimir Balentien hit a solo homer for the Reds, who have lost two in a row
and three of five.
Justin Lehr (5-3) went six frames, allowing three runs on four hits with six
strikeouts and three walks to take the loss.
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