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(Sports Network) - Young right-hander Edinson Volquez will try to shake off his first loss of the season today when the Cincinnati Reds host the Chicago Cubs in the finale of a three-game series at Great American Ball Park.

Volquez, who began the season with four wins and a no-decision in five starts, was beaten, 2-0, by the Atlanta Braves on May 2 after allowing four hits and an unearned run in six innings.

It was his first loss with the Reds since coming to Cincinnati from Texas in the offseason, a deal that saw outfielder Josh Hamilton head to the American League.

Volquez was a winner in his lone career appearance against the Cubs on April 17, allowing four hits and a run through five innings en route to a 9-2 triumph.

Overall, in 35 1/3 innings of work, he's given up just 24 hits and five earned runs while striking out 42 and walking 18.

Veteran right-hander Jon Lieber makes his first start of the season for Chicago after nine appearances in relief. The 38-year-old Iowa native was 2-1 with a blown save in 19 1/3 innings of bullpen work, allowing 21 hits and four runs.

He pitched an inning against the Reds on April 17 and was tagged for three hits and two earned runs in just one inning of work. Lieber's been successful overall against Cincinnati, however, going 11-8 in 28 appearances - 26 starts - with a 4.04 earned run average in 165 innings.

Lieber was 3-6 in 14 appearances - 12 starts - during an injury plagued 2007 with the Philadelphia Phillies, throwing just 78 innings.

On Tuesday, Carlos Zambrano tossed eight brilliant shutout innings to lead the Cubs to a 3-0 win over the Reds. Zambrano (5-1) allowed three hits and struck out three with three walks for the Cubs, who rebounded from a loss in Monday's series opener and halted a two-game skid.

Ken Griffey had two hits for the Reds, who lost for the sixth time in their last seven games overall.

Aaron Harang (1-5) started on the mound and absorbed the loss after he allowed three runs on seven hits with six strikeouts over seven innings.

Harang also registered a hit for Cincinnati.

Chicago won two of three meetings with Reds at Wrigley Field last month and is 8-4 in its last 12 matchups against Cincinnati. The Cubs went 5-4 in their nine 2007 visits to Great American Ball Park.