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Volquez, Zito square off in Cincy

Fri 29th, August 2008

(Sports Network) - Right-hander Edinson Volquez faces San Francisco for the second time this season tonight when the Cincinnati Reds open a three-game weekend series with the visiting Giants at Great American Ball Park.

Volquez twirled seven strong innings against the Giants on April 27 in California, allowing just five hits and a run while walking three and striking out 10 in a 10-1 victory.

The win was part of a 12-3 start that yielded an All-Star Game berth for the 25-year-old, who has returned from the midseason interlude with just three wins in seven starts.

He got a no-decision at Colorado in his most recent start, allowing six hits and three runs in six innings of the Reds' 7-6 loss.

Volquez is 7-2 in 13 home starts with a 3.40 earned run average in 76 2/3 innings.

For the Giants, ex-American League standout Barry Zito can continue a modest second-half turnaround.

A 16-game winner in his final season with the Oakland Athletics in 2006, Zito slumped to just 11 wins in his initial season with San Francisco in 2007 after signing a lucrative free-agent contract in the offseason.

He got off to a 4-12 start through the All-Star break in mid-July and is 4-3 in seven starts since.

Most recently, against Atlanta and San Diego, he's scored two straight wins while combining to allow nine hits and three runs in 15 innings.

Zito is 2-1 with an 8.55 ERA in four career starts against the Reds.

On Thursday in Houston, Ty Wigginton homered twice as Houston clipped Cincinnati, 3-2, in the rubber match of a three-game set from Minute Maid Park.

Jay Bruce and Corey Patterson drove in a run each for the Reds, who have dropped four of five.

Cincy starter Aaron Harang (4-14) dropped his fourth decision in five after yielding seven hits and three runs in seven full frames.

On Wednesday in San Francisco, Bengie Molina and Pablo Sandoval hit back-to- back homers to give the hosts the lead, and the Giants pulled away for a 4-1 win over the Colorado Rockies in the finale of a three-game set.

Tim Lincecum (15-3) took the win after allowing just one run on five hits and three walks in 7 2/3 frames. He also struck out 10 in winning his third consecutive start and fourth decision in a row.

Dave Roberts and Omar Vizquel each had two hits for the Giants, who had lost the first two games of the series.

The Giants took two of three from the Reds back from April 25-27.