Cincinnati Reds see torrential downpour set the mood for the Pirates coming to town

After the Cincinnati Reds missed their chance to catch the Milwaukee Brewers in the standings, an angry Pittsburgh team comes to town.

The Cincinnati Reds had an opportunity to get within one game of fourth place of the Milwaukee Brewers when the Brew Crew visited Cincinnati earlier this week.  The Reds had a three game winning streak after taking three of four from the Pirates in a weekend series.  They quickly won the first two games vs. the Brewers.

Then came the game 3 match up of Junior Guerra vs. Tim Adleman.  Adleman was looking to personally get to .500, while Guerra looked to get his record to 9-3.  Guerra was successful.  The wheels finally feel off of the Adleman express.

Adleman had a rough start for the Cincinnati Reds.  He lasted 5 innings giving up 4 earned runs on 3 hits and 3 walks.  There is at least some consolation that the home run came with the bases empty.  Unfortunately, after walking two to start the second inning, Adleman saw them both come home to roost and that was all the Brewers needed.

Guerra produced six innings of shutout ball that kept the Reds out of the game.  He allowed five runners while striking out five.  This was the best start that the Brewers got in their visit to Cincinnati.

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The Pirates bring the rain and the hope for a new day.

After an off day to catch their breath, the Reds see a Pirates team that thinks that they are still in the play-off hunt.  They are on their last leg after losing three of four against the Reds last weekend.  Now with rain in Cincinnati and more in the forecast for the weekend, the Pirates look to make up for last weekend.

The Reds will send top prospect Robert Stephenson to the mound.  He is one of the three pitchers that the Reds can expect to be in the rotation to start next year.  Meanwhile, reclamation project Ryan Vogelsong will start for the Pirates. Vogelsong has bounced between the rotation and the bullpen.

The Reds need to show the Pirates that last week was not an aberration.  They have the chance to make a dreary weekend in Cincinnati an exciting one.  With the annual Oktoberfest Zinzinnati going on blocks from Great American Ballpark, the energy around the park will be electric.  The Reds need to take advantage of this energy.

Next: Reds find out what the Commissioner's Office thinks of them

The Pirates are looking to take advantage of a series of game vs. the Reds, Brewers, and Philadelphia Phillies to resurrect their playoffs chances.  The Reds must resurrect their chances of catching the Brewers.  Both teams have something to prove this dreary weekend, but the Reds have the homefield advantage.