The Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies are ready to do battle in the second game of a four-game set at Citizens Bank Park

Cincinnati Reds at Philadelphia Phillies

Cincinnati fell 10-3 at Philadelphia Monday night and extended its season-high losing streak to six games.  The Reds have also dropped nine consecutive games at Citizens Bank Park, with their last win on July 7, 2009.  “We just haven’t played well against the Phillies in a long, long time,” said Reds starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo.  “They find ways to beat us and tonight they beat us up real good.”  The club’s losing streak is a sudden 180-degree turn from a recent stretch when they won five in a row and eight of nine games.  Outfielder Jay Bruce is one of only a few players contributing at a high level recently, going 15 for 30 with four homers and nine RBIs over his last eight games.  First baseman Joey Votto has been handcuffed against tonight’s opponent, tallying one hit in his last 14 at-bats.  Cincinnati is 3-1 this season after allowing 10 or more runs.

Reds starting pitcher Johnny Cueto will be making just his fourth start of the season, bringing in a 2-1 record and 1.45 ERA.  The right-hander picked up his first loss of the year last time out, dropping a 5-3 home contest to the Pirates, surrendering a season-high three earned runs and five hits over just five frames.  Cueto has tallied a 17-20 record and 4.16 ERA in 50 career road starts, which is a bit different than his 17-13 mark at home.  In four career starts versus the Phillies, he has posted a 1-2 record and 5.96 ERA, including a 1-0 mark and 1.20 ERA in two starts last year.

Philadelphia is still just 11-10 in May with last night’s victory after posting a franchise-best 18-8 record in April.  The Phillies have outscored the Reds 48-25 during their nine-game home winning streak against them and showed off some pop in the order with shortstop Jimmy Rollins and third baseman Placido Polanco both hitting home runs.  The return of star second baseman Chase Utley may have had something to do with last night’s offensive performance, returning to the lineup for the first time in 47 games this season.  “I had some good swings, I had some bad swings,” Utley stated.  “Every else had some pretty good swings.”  The club’s 14 hitters was the most since tallying 15 back on April 9.  Philadelphia is 18-15 versus right-handed starters.

Phillies starting pitcher Vance Worley is 2-0 with a 1.12 ERA in four appearances (two starts) this season and his last two outings have come out of the bullpen.  The right-hander had made both of his starts this year at Citizens Bank Park, producing his 2-0 mark and 0.75 ERA, holding opponents to a .143 average.  Worley has been very effective with his pitches this year, issuing just six walks and compiling 15 strikeouts in 16 innings.  Tuesday night will be his first career appearance versus Cincinnati.

Bettors will likely back the Phillies due to their 51-23 record in home games, while the Reds are 2-7 in Cueto’s last nine starts