The Philadelphia Phillies haven't earned too many wins lately but claimed a pair in last week's three-game series against Cincinnati.
Given his splendid record versus the Reds and the way he's been pitching lately, Cole Hamels could give the Phillies the opportunity for another win in Monday night's series opener at Great American Ball Park.
Philadelphia claimed just its fourth victory in 16 games Sunday, 6-4 against San Francisco, with Jeff Francoeur hitting a key two-out double in the seventh. He had a grand slam in a 7-5 loss Saturday.
The Phillies (22-36) will seek to avoid a season high-tying fifth consecutive road defeat when they head to Cincinnati (24-31), winners in five of eight at home and five of the last six meetings there in the series. The Reds needed a 4-0 win Sunday to avoid getting swept in their own park by San Diego, and Jay Bruce drove in all those runs on two homers.
They allowed Philadelphia to rally for a pair of victories last week, including a 5-4 win in 11 innings Wednesday. Hamels (5-4, 2.88 ERA) gave up two runs in seven innings while striking out eight, and he has yielded two runs or fewer while going at least seven innings in a career-high six straight starts.
"I'm just trying to do what I can," Hamels said.
The left-hander is 10-0 with a 1.45 ERA in 14 career starts against Cincinnati, including one in the postseason. The last pitcher to win his first 11 career decisions - including the postseason - against any team was Jon Lester against the Orioles (14 straight) from August 13, 2006-April 28, 2011. The last to win his first 11 career decisions against the Reds was Roy Oswalt (15 straight) from May 14, 2001 to September 1, 2005.
Mike Leake (2-4, 4.40) took a no-hitter into the seventh opposite Hamels last week, but was denied his first win in five outings. The right-hander gave up two singles to open the ninth and was charged with two runs when closer Aroldis Chapman gave up Chase Utley's sacrifice fly and Maikel Franco's three-run homer.
It was an encouraging outing for Leake, who was 0-3 with a 12.86 ERA in his previous three starts.
"Just my head was off for a few games, just something I can't probably explain what was going on," Leake told MLB's official website. "It was just a matter of coming back and re-finding what was making me do well."
Philadelphia also rallied for a 5-4 walkoff win in Tuesday's opener with Franco providing a tying, two-run homer in the eighth and Darin Ruf ending the game with a pinch-hit single. Franco is 10 for 25 with four homers, three doubles and eight RBIs in his last six contests.
Ben Revere is 10 for 21 in his past seven games against Cincinnati. Cody Asche is batting .391 (9 for 23) in his six career matchups but is 1 for 14 in his last four overall contests.
Bruce was batting .412 with 10 homers and 30 RBIs over a 25-game stretch against Philadelphia before going hitless in his final two last week. Joey Votto is hitting .379 in his past 17 meetings and is 13 for 27 (.481) with three homers in his past six.
Votto, however, is 3 for 18 lifetime against Hamels. That .167 average ranks as his fourth-worst among the 44 pitchers he has faced at least 20 times.
