Mike Leake tries to build off his best start of the season this evening when the Cincinnati Reds continue a three-game set with the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park.
Leake picked up his first win of the season on Monday against Atlanta, as he held the Braves to a run and three hits over eight innings to improve to 1-5, while lowering his earned run average to 5.32. He had also allowed just one earned run in his previous start after pitching to a 7.11 ERA through his first six appearances.
"I was just inconsistent," Leake said of his earlier performances. "I wasn't getting ahead, and I wasn't throwing to where I wanted it ... it was a combination of everything. I finally sucked it up, and I think I'm headed down the right track."
Leake beat the Rockies the only other time he faced them.
Colorado, meanwhile, will counter with righty Jeremy Guthrie, who is 2-2 with a 5.55 ERA. Guthrie was awful in losing to the Seattle Mariners on Sunday, as he allowed six runs and seven hits in six innings.
Guthrie has only faced the Reds one other time and beat them, despite giving up four runs in 5 2/3 innings.
On Friday, Todd Helton went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI to lead Colorado to a 6-3 win. Jordan Pacheco had an RBI double and Troy Tulowitzki had three hits, drove in a run and scored a pair for the Rockies, winners in two straight since dropping six in a row.
Christian Friedrich (2-1) allowed three runs on seven hits over five frames. He also struck out six and walked just one. Rafael Betancourt picked up his eighth save of the season after throwing a perfect ninth.
Todd Frazier drove in a pair of runs and Ryan Ludwick had an RBI double for the Reds, who had a six-game winning streak halted. Joey Votto went 4-for-4 with two doubles.
Johnny Cueto (5-2) was pegged with the loss after giving up five runs on 11 hits over 4 2/3.
Colorado took four of seven from the Reds last season.
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