Cincinnati Reds (73-81) at Houston Astros (71-82), 7:05 p.m.
Sports Network | September 26, 2009
(Sports Network) - Journeyman right-hander Justin Lehr faces the Houston Astros for the second straight start tonight when the Cincinnati Reds head to Minute Maid Park for the second game of a three-game weekend series.
The 32-year-old Lehr was touched for 11 hits and five runs in five innings against Houston on September 16, getting a no-decision in a game the Reds eventually won, 6-5.
He's faced the Astros five times in a 75-appearance major-league career, allowing 15 hits and nine runs in 11 innings for a 6.55 earned run average.
The 6-foot-2, 215-pounder had never started a game prior to 2009 and is now 4-2 in nine assignments with a 5.30 ERA. In four road starts, he's 2-2.
For Houston, right-hander Felipe Paulino tries to halt a skid that's reached nine appearances.
The 25-year-old was 2-4 with an 8-1 defeat of Detroit in an interleague game on June 27, but is 0-6 since as his ERA has swelled from 5.51 to 6.06.
He gave up eight hits and four runs in six innings of a 6-0 loss at Milwaukee in his last start, walking two batters and striking out seven.
Paulino lost a 6-1 verdict at Cincinnati on May 27.
The Astros are 4-17 in games he's pitched.
On Friday, Joey Votto homered and drove in four runs to lead the Reds in a 10-4 rout, giving them eight straight wins over the Astros.
Wladimir Balentien knocked in a pair of runs for Cincinnati, which has won nine of its last 11 games. Jay Bruce had a solo homer, while Paul Janish and Drew Stubbs both had two hits, two runs scored and an RBI.
Matt Maloney (2-4) got the win after going seven innings and yielding two runs on six hits.
Lance Berkman had a two-run home run for Houston. Kaz Matsui had a solo homer and set a career high with his eighth longball of the year.
Brian Moehler (8-11) took the loss after giving up seven runs on eight hits in 2 1/3 innings of work.
The Reds have won 11 of their 14 meetings with the Astros this season, winning four of five in Houston.
