Atlanta @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 23, 2011 ) Atlanta 2, Cincinnati 11

THE STORY: The Cincinnati Reds will try to win back-to-back games for the first time since mid-June when they host the Atlanta Braves in the finale of a three-game series Sunday. The Reds won the second game 11-2 on Saturday, the most runs they’ve scored since April 16. The Reds scored seven runs in the seventh, which is their most productive inning of the year and the most allowed by the Atlanta pitching staff all season. This will be the final regular-season meeting between the two clubs. The Braves lead the series 3-2.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, ESPN

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Brandon Beachy (3-2, 3.75 ERA) vs. Reds LH Dontrelle Willis (0-1, 3.37).

Beachy is coming off his worst performance of the season as he got battered for six runs in 4 2/3 innings in his first career start in Colorado. He had allowed no more than three runs in any of his previous nine starts. Beachy has established himself as a strikeout pitcher, averaging better than one per inning and holding a 4-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. This will be his first career start against Cincinnati. Willis makes his third start of the season and is seeking his first victory. The lanky lefthander has been respectable in his two previous starts, allowing two runs in each outing. His control was better in his most recent start, a 2-0 loss to Pittsburgh when he struck out five and walked one. He walked four in his previous start against Milwaukee. Willis is 6-5 with a 4.91 ERA against the Braves in 19 career starts, most coming when he was a member of the Marlins.

ABOUT THE BRAVES (59-42): Dan Uggla has hit safely in 14 consecutive games, a career high. Freddie Freeman has a seven-game hitting streak and is 10-for-28 during that stretch. Center fielder Jordan Schafer has missed three straight games with a jammed middle finger. He has been unable to grip a bat, but was cleared to play as a defensive replacement or a pinch-runner. Reliever Scott Proctor’s days with the club may be ending. He was tagged for four runs in one inning Saturday and has allowed 11 runs in 5 1/3 innings over his last five appearances. Rumors have the club attempting to pick up another reliever to bolster the staff.

ABOUT THE REDS (49-51): X-xays on the left elbow of rookie shortstop Zack Cozart were negative and doctors declared it hyperextended. There was no word on how long Cozart would be out of the lineup and whether he might be headed for the disabled list. Miguel Cairo and rookie Todd Frazier are expected to split time at third with Scott Rolen on the DL. Frazier got his first major league hit Friday and made his first start Saturday, going 1-for-4 with a bases-loaded double. Jay Bruce, who hasn’t started the first two games, had a pinch-hit double to start the rally that put the Reds ahead Saturday. He remains a game-time decision.

FINAL PITCH: Atlanta’s Chipper Jones was scheduled to play two rehab games with Class A Rome Saturday and Sunday. The ultimate decision to play rehab games came after Jones felt soreness in his knee while taking batting practice in the middle of the week. He is eligible to come off the DL on Sunday, but Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said he isn't likely to return until next weekend.