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Didn't we just do this?
The Reds are coming off of an exciting 9th inning win against the Pittsburgh Pirates and are hoping to carry that momentum into tonight's game against the Pirates.
The Pirates are coming off of a heart-breaking loss in the ninth inning to the Cincinnati Reds, a game where they battled back but lost it in the end. They will have to put the game behind them as they take on the Reds tonight.
Johnny Cueto makes his first start tonight after going on the disabled list back on August 19th. There are no two ways about it, Cueto has been abysmal since the middle of June, posting an 8.88 ERA in his last 11 starts. Hopefully the time on the DL has been productive and allowed him to get his stuff together, since apparently there was no real sign of an injury.
Paul Maholm owns the Reds of late. Over his last 6 starts against the home team, he is 2-0 with a 1.96 ERA, striking out 35 and walking 14 in 41.1 innings. The only Reds batter who has hit him well is Brandon Phillips, who has hit .355/.375/.710 in 32 PAs against Maholm, though Scott Rolen has 3 hits and 3 walks in 12 PA.
Cueto and Maholm faced off earlier this year in Cueto's first start of the season. Maholm got the better of the Reds as Cueto pitched 6 innings and gave up 4 rus, but the bullpen imploded and the Reds lost 10-2. Let's not build off of that game, okay?
It doesn't get much more exciting than a Pirates-Reds rivarly. Head on down to the game, plenty of good sections still available!