While the nightmarish losing streak has finally ended for the Cincinnati Reds, the inability to produce offensively remains.
Following an excellent pitching performance that led to their first win in nearly two weeks, the Reds will look for a series victory Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies.
Cincinnati (19-26) tallied only five hits Tuesday but won 2-1. Michael Lorenzen allowed one run and two hits in seven innings, the Reds' bullpen worked two scoreless frames and Skip Schumaker delivered a walk-off double to snap a nine-game skid.
Cincinnati had not won since May 14, the franchise's longest drought since losing 11 straight in 1998.
"We were trying to do everything we can to find a way to win that game," manager Bryan Price said. "Hopefully that's a weight off everybody's shoulders and we can go back to relaxing and just playing baseball and having fun. That's how it's supposed to be.
"It's hard to find joy in the game when you're not doing what you feel you should be doing ... we had to find a way through it."
The Reds, though, are still mired in an offensive slump, averaging 1.9 runs in their last seven games. Joey Votto has no RBIs in his last 11 games, Zack Cozart is 2 for 29 in his last eight and Brayan Pena is 3 for 21 in his last six.
Pena has been filling the catcher's position with Devin Mesoraco on the shelf. Mesoraco, who has not played since last Wednesday, was placed on the 15-day disabled list Monday with a left hip strain.
Jay Bruce has been perhaps the lineup's sole bright spot, batting .441 over his last nine games with two home runs.
Mike Leake (2-3, 4.14) is all too familiar with Cincinnati's offensive woes. He's 0-2 in his last three starts while receiving only three runs of support. However, he's also pitched poorly in losing the last two, surrendering 14 runs and 18 hits in nine innings.
Leake is 1-1 with a 6.46 ERA in three career starts against Colorado.
If he does help Cincinnati take a lead late into the game, Aroldis Chapman might not be available to close it out after pitching on each of the last three days. Chapman gave up a run in each of the first two, including taking the loss in Monday's series opener, and put two men on in the ninth inning Tuesday before striking out Troy Tulowitzki and Nolan Arenado.
"It's just that you've got to get a perfect pitch, and it's tough to lay off pitches because of the velocity," Tulowitzki told MLB's official website. "You've got to hope he makes a mistake or you're on top of your game."
Tulowitzki hasn't homered in 24 straight games but has one off Leake and is 3 for 8 lifetime against him.
Colorado (18-26) will go with Kyle Kendrick (1-6, 6.58 ERA), who seems to have finally settled in despite a string of unfortunate results. He bounced back from an 8.73 ERA through his first six starts to post a 3.10 mark in his last three.
Still, the Rockies have dropped Kendrick's last five starts, and he's 0-6 in eight outings since winning his season debut.
Cincinnati's Brandon Phillips missed Tuesday's game with a sore toe and is questionable for the series finale.
