(PITTSBURGH) — The Pittsburgh Pirates attempt to hold onto first place tonight against the Cincinnati Reds. Neil Walker leads the Bucs into the contest on a 12 game hitting streak and the Pirates having won their last three consecutive series overall, and last six series against NL Central foes. They have not lost a series since June 18th against the Indians in Cleveland, and not to an NL Central opponent since May 14th against the dreaded Milwaukee Brewers.
The Pirates send James McDonald to the mound who has not given up more than three earned runs in a start this season. The Reds counter with Mike Leake who has given up nine earned runs combined in his last two starts. Even though the Pirates have only lost one game against the Reds this season, the Reds are a slight favorite in the sports books. This shows that though the casual fan is starting to jump on the black and gold baseball bandwagon, the betting public is not.
The Reds are anxious to climb back to the top of the division race with the Brewers, Cardinals, and Pirates all log jammed within one game of first place while the Reds are sitting four games out. Even though the division has four teams sporting winning records, it will most likely only produce one playoff team. The division leading Pirates would still be six games out of any Wild Card chase with the Atlanta Braves leading it.
The lineups tonight.
First the Reds:
- CF Stubbs
- SS Cozart
- 1B Votto
- 2B Phillips
- 3B Cairo
- RF Heisey
- LF Lewis
- CA Hanigan
- SP Leake
Pirates:
- LF Presley
- 3B Harrison
- 2B Walker
- CF McCutchen
- RF Jones
- 1B Overbay
- SS Wood
- CA McKenry
- SP McDonald
Pittsburgh Innocents 
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