Reds' Cueto eyes 10th victory in finale with Padres
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Right-hander Johnny Cueto can wrap up the season's unofficial first half with his 10th victory today, when the Cincinnati Reds visit Petco Park for the fourth and final game of a series with the host San Diego Padres.
A 26-year-old Dominican, Cueto has been stuck at nine wins since June 23, when he pitched seven scoreless innings in a 6-0 defeat of Minnesota.
He's dropped a pair of starts since while attempting to get to double digits, allowing a combined 13 hits and six runs in 13 innings in road games at San Francisco and Los Angeles.
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In three career meetings with the Padres, Cueto is 0-2 with a bloated 7.41 earned run average in 17 innings.
He last faced San Diego in April 2010 and was a 5-0 loser after allowing five runs on seven hits in six innings.
The Reds took a 2-1 lead in the series on Saturday, when Chris Heisey hit a two-run homer and Drew Stubbs added a solo blast in a 6-5 win.
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Devin Mesoraco and Homer Bailey each had an RBI and Todd Frazier scored twice for the Reds, who have won five of 10 on a West Coast swing against the Dodgers, Giants and Padres.
Bailey (7-6) allowed four runs - two earned - on seven hits and fanned eight over 6 2/3 innings.
Aroldis Chapman struck out the side in the ninth to earn his 10th save of the season.
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Chris Denorfia hit a solo homer and Logan Forsythe drove in a pair of runs for the Padres, who lost for the second time since winning six straight. Carlos Quentin chipped in with two hits, an RBI and a run scored.
Clayton Richard (6-9) was pegged with the loss after giving up all six runs on eight hits is six-plus innings.
The win allowed the Reds to stay within a game of the lead in the National League's Central Division, where they trail the Pittsburgh Pirates.
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The Pirates won, 3-1, at home against visiting San Francisco.
The Padres end the series with righty Jason Marquis, who'll start for the seventh time since San Diego signed him as a free agent in late May.
The 33-year-old Manhasset, N.Y. native was 2-4 in seven starts with the Minnesota Twins to begin the season, but headed to California after the Twins released him on May 28.
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He was acquired by the Padres the following day and won one of five starts in June before opening July with a no-decision at Arizona.
He has a 3.49 ERA with San Diego after posting an 8.47 mark with the Twins.
Marquis has won seven of 10 career decisions against the Reds.
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San Diego and Cincinnati are meeting for their first series in 2012. The Reds won four of six matchups last season.