San Diego @ Cincinnati preview
Great American Ball Park
Last Meeting ( Aug 13, 2011 ) San Diego 1, Cincinnati 13
THE STORY: Dontrelle Willis hasn't been able to catch a break since being recalled from Triple A Louisville on July 10. The 29-year-old lefthander has recorded a quality start in five of his six outings this season, but has yet to put a notch in the win column. Willis will try again as the host Cincinnati Reds vie for a season-high fifth straight win Sunday when they face the San Diego Padres. San Diego is 5-4 on its 10-game road trip, but has lost four of its last six.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, Channel 4 (San Diego), FS Ohio (Cincinnati)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Wade LeBlanc (0-2, 4.55 ERA) vs. Reds LH Dontrelle Willis (0-2, 3.41).
With Dustin Moseley lost for the season with an injury to his non-throwing shoulder, LeBlanc has found himself in the starting rotation. The 27-year-old Louisiana native pitched well in his last outing, permitting two runs and six hits in six innings Tuesday against the New York Mets. Despite the strong outing, LeBlanc settled for his third straight no-decision. LeBlanc won his lone career start versus Cincinnati, scattering three hits over six scoreless innings in a 5-0 victory on April 24, 2010. Willis certainly deserved better in his last outing. He was saddled with the loss despite registering a season-high 10 strikeouts over eight innings in a 3-2 setback to the Colorado Rockies. The bullpen hasn't done him any favors, either. It has squandered three save opportunities behind him. Willis will look to rebound against the Padres, against whom he has posted a 2-1 career mark. Then again, he last faced them on May 4, 2007 while pitching for the Florida Marlins.
ABOUT THE PADRES (53-68): After failing to hold an eighth-inning lead in the series opener, manager Bud Black's team didn't have to worry about biting its nails Saturday. Starter Tim Stauffer and company yielded a franchise-tying seven homers as Cincinnati cruised to a 13-1 triumph. Kyle Blanks belted his third homer in nine games, but that was all the offense the Padres could muster against Homer Bailey and the Reds. After going 2-for-3 on Friday in his return to the lineup with a mildly strained hamstring, Orlando Hudson went 0-for-3 on Saturday. He is 5-for-15 in his career versus Willis.
ABOUT THE REDS (59-61): Jay Bruce has been on an absolute tear as of late. The All-Star went deep for the fourth time in seven games when he belted a two-run homer as part of a five-run third inning Saturday. Bruce has only faced LeBlanc twice in his career, going 0-for-2 during that stretch. Ryan Hanigan homered twice and drove in five runs, Miguel Cairo also went deep twice and Todd Frazier added a solo shot in the home run exhibition. Cairo is playing in place of Brandon Phillips, who has not started a game since Tuesday as he deals with an elbow injury. Phillips did make an appearance as a pinch-hitter during Friday's series opener and is expected to return Sunday.
FINAL PITCH: Saturday's game marked the sixth time since 2008 that a team has belted seven homers in a game. As for Cincinnati, the outburst matched the most it has hit since moving into Great American Ball Park in 2003.