| SEASON | CAREER |
| W16 | 57 |
| L6 | 43 |
| G25 | 141 |
| IP169.2 | 856.0 |
| BB37 | 269 |
| SO135 | 667 |
| SEASON | CAREER |
| W14 | 88 |
| L6 | 60 |
| G24 | 205 |
| IP171.1 | 1332.0 |
| BB42 | 334 |
| SO168 | 1259 |
The league leader in some major pitching categories while playing for a division front-runner, Cincinnati's Johnny Cueto is an obvious candidate for the NL Cy Young Award.
Philadelphia's Cole Hamels may be a long shot for that honor, but defeating the Reds could help bolster his resume.
Cueto aims to become baseball's first 17-game winner and lead Cincinnati to a rare series win at Citizens Bank Park in Thursday night's finale, while Hamels looks to continue his dominance over the NL Central-leading Reds.
After dropping Monday's four-game series opener 12-5, Cincinnati (76-49) has won consecutive one-run decisions over the Phillies to maintain its eight-game lead atop the Central. Bronson Arroyo and Aroldis Chapman combined on a four-hitter in Wednesday's 3-2 victory while Jay Bruce homered and doubled for the Reds, who won for the 10th time in 13 contests and moved a season-high 27 games over .500.
Bruce is batting .419 with five homers and 12 RBIs in his last 11 games.
The Reds, who arrived in Philadelphia losers of nine of 10 in the City of Brotherly Love, are a victory away from taking their first series at Citizens Bank Park since August 2006.
Cincinnati seems to have the right man on the mound in Cueto (16-6, 2.44 ERA), but runs could be hard to come by for each team with Philadelphia (57-67) countering with Hamels (14-6, 2.94).
Cueto is tied for the major league wins lead and has the best ERA in the NL, while Hamels ranks fourth in the league with 168 strikeouts.
Both have been cruising lately, with Cueto having permitted two runs over 16 innings in winning his last two starts. The right-hander has also won seven of his last eight outings, and is the first Cincinnati pitcher since Danny Jackson in 1988 to win 16 of his first 25 starts in a season.
"He has to be a serious candidate for the Cy Young Award," Reds manager Dusty Baker said after Cueto allowed two runs and three hits in eight innings of Saturday's 5-3 win over the Chicago Cubs .
Hamels has been pitching his way into the Cy Young conversation, yielding three runs over 25 2-3 innings to win his last three outings.
After throwing consecutive shutouts, Hamels permitted three runs and eight hits with a season-high tying 10 strikeouts in 7 2-3 innings of Saturday's 4-3 victory over Milwaukee. The left-hander had limited the Brewers to one run until Ryan Braun hit a two-run homer with two outs in the eighth.
Hamels is now one victory away from matching his career high of 15, set in 2007.
"That's kind of the evil number there," he told the Phillies' official website. "I haven't been able to get to it."
A start against Cincinnati might help him reach that elusive number.
In nine career starts against the Reds, Hamels is 7-0 with a 1.44 ERA - his best record versus any NL team and lowest ERA against any major league club. Two of those outings were complete games, and the Phillies won all nine.
Bruce has had some recent success against Hamels, going 4 for 13 with a pair of homers since 2009.
Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard , who was hitless in four at-bats Wednesday after batting .440 during a six-game hitting streak, is 3 for 8 with a triple and two doubles off Cueto since 2010.
Cueto is 1-0 with a 2.14 ERA in his last three starts against the Phillies.
@
AVG
HRRUNSSBSOBBOBPSLGOPS
VS.
| HITTERS | AB | AVG | H | HR | RBI | BB | SO | OBP | OPS | SLG |
| Bronson Arroyo | 2 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .333 | .333 | .000 |
| Homer Bailey | 3 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Jay Bruce | 17 | .235 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | .235 | .823 | .588 |
| Miguel Cairo | 4 | .500 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .500 | 1.500 | 1.000 |
| Johnny Cueto | 1 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .500 | .500 | .000 |
| Ryan Hanigan | 4 | .250 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .500 | .750 | .250 |
| Willie Harris | 8 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | .200 | .200 | .000 |
| Chris Heisey | 1 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Ryan Ludwick | 18 | .278 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | .381 | .992 | .611 |
| Brandon Phillips | 28 | .143 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | .172 | .458 | .286 |
| Scott Rolen | 14 | .286 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | .368 | .725 | .357 |
| Drew Stubbs | 8 | .125 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .125 | .250 | .125 |
| Wilson Valdez | 3 | .333 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .333 | .666 | .333 |
| Joey Votto | 14 | .143 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | .250 | .464 | .214 |
VS.
| HITTERS | AB | AVG | H | HR | RBI | BB | SO | OBP | OPS | SLG |
| Cole Hamels | 3 | .667 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .667 | 1.667 | 1.000 |
| Kyle Kendrick | 3 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Cliff Lee | 1 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .500 | .500 | .000 |
| John Mayberry | 3 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Laynce Nix | 4 | .250 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .250 | .500 | .250 |
| Pete Orr | 2 | .500 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .667 | 1.167 | .500 |
| Hunter Pence | 29 | .276 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11 | .300 | .645 | .345 |
| Juan Pierre | 6 | .333 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .333 | .833 | .500 |
| Placido Polanco | 3 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Jimmy Rollins | 14 | .214 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | .313 | .742 | .429 |
| Carlos Ruiz | 6 | .333 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .429 | .929 | .500 |
| Brian Schneider | 8 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .111 | .111 | .000 |
| Shane Victorino | 10 | .500 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | .583 | 1.683 | 1.100 |
| Ty Wigginton | 6 | .333 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .500 | .833 | .333 |
| Vance Worley | 2 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
 Cincinnati Reds |
|||
| Date | Player | Status | Injury |
| August 01, 2012 | Devin Mesoraco | 7-Day DL | Concussion |
| August 01, 2012 | Wilson Valdez | Day-to-Day | Left game - stiff neck |
| August 01, 2012 | Devin Mesoraco | 7-Day DL | Concussion |
| July 31, 2012 | Brandon Phillips | Day-to-Day | Left game - strained left calf |
| July 31, 2012 | Bill Bray | 15-Day DL | Lumbar muscle strain |
| July 16, 2012 | Joey Votto | Day-to-Day | Torn meniscus, left knee - out 3-4 weeks |
 Philadelphia Phillies |
|||
| Date | Player | Status | Injury |
| August 13, 2012 | Nate Schierholtz | 15-Day DL | Fractured right big toe |
| August 03, 2012 | Carlos Ruiz | 15-Day DL | Plantar fasciitis, left foot |
| July 23, 2012 | Placido Polanco | 15-Day DL | Lower back inflammation |
| July 23, 2012 | Placido Polanco | 15-Day DL | Lower back inflammation |
| July 09, 2012 | Raul Valdes | 15-Day DL | Strained right hip |
| July 09, 2012 | Raul Valdes | 15-Day DL | Strained right hip |
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Charlie Manuel sounded like a prize fighter who went the distance. And the Philadelphia manager didn't even play.
John Mayberry Jr. hit an RBI single in the bottom of the 11th inning to lift the Phillies to a 4-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday night.
In a game that lasted 4 hours, 24 minutes, the Phillies squandered opportunities in the ninth and 10th before getting a key hit to split the four-game set. They took over sole possession of third place in the NL East for the first time since April.
"I feel like I was in a fight, and I lost," Manuel said. "I feel drained. I kept waiting for somebody to come home."
Todd Frazier drove in all three runs for the NL Central-leading Reds, who were seeking their first series win in Philadelphia since 2006.
Kevin Frandsen led off the 11th with a single against Alfredo Simon (2-2), and Chase Utley followed with a double. After Ryan Howard was intentionally walked, Domonic Brown hit a bouncer to first that caused Frandsen to be forced out at home.
Mayberry then grounded a single to left to end it.
"The series was like playoff action," Reds manager Dusty Baker said.
Raul Valdes (3-2) worked a scoreless 11th for the win. Philadelphia's bullpen pitched five hitless innings.
"It was phenomenal," Mayberry said. "Everybody threw the ball extremely well."
In a matchup between NL Cy Young Award contenders, neither Johnny Cueto nor Cole Hamels was sharp. Cueto was trying to become the first 17-game winner in the majors. The dreadlocked righty allowed two runs and five hits in five-plus innings.
Hamels gave up three runs and six hits in six innings. He remained unbeaten against the Reds. The lefty entered 8-0 with a 1.26 ERA in 10 previous starts, including a five-hitter to finish off a sweep in the 2010 NL division series.
J.J. Hoover pitched out of trouble in the ninth and 10th. Hoover retired Brown on a double-play grounder with the bases loaded to send the game to extra innings.
"Things like that happen, but we came up with a tough win," Brown said.
After Jimmy Rollins hit a double to put runners on second and third with one out in the 10th, Hoover got Brian Schneider on a grounder to third, and Juan Pierre on a popup to third.
Down 3-2, the Phillies rallied in the eighth against relievers Sean Marshall and Sam LeCure . Brown, Mayberry and Erik Kratz hit consecutive one-out singles to load the bases. Rollins then hit a shallow fly to left. Brown scored ahead of Ryan Ludwick 's off-target throw to tie it at 3.
Despite bright skies, it rained hard in the first inning. The Reds loaded the bases with one out on two singles and a walk. Frazier drove in a run on a groundout to third for a 1-0 lead. Phillies shortstop Michael Martinez then saved a run with a spectacular, diving grab on Miguel Cairo 's grounder in the hole and made a strong throw to get the out and end the inning.
Hamels seemed a bit perturbed by the downpour and asked the grounds crew to work on the mound during the inning. He also appeared upset that Frandsen didn't throw home on Frazier's bouncer, throwing his hands up in the air.
"I was frustrated starting the game when it rains," Hamels said. "I don't think it should ever happen. They have radar detectors."
The defense let Hamels down again in the sixth.
After a leadoff single by Jay Bruce , Ludwick ripped a wicked one-hopper to Martinez, who couldn't handle the ball. It was ruled a hit, though it could've been a double-play grounder. Frazier followed with a double off the base of the wall in center, and the ball bounced back through Laynce Nix 's legs. Two runs scored for a 3-0 lead, and Frazier advanced to third on Nix's error.
The rain stopped by the second, but the field was a little spongy for a few more innings.
Phillies right-hander Phillippe Aumont , acquired from Seattle in the original Cliff Lee trade in December 2009, pitched a scoreless eighth in his major league debut.
NOTES: Cueto leads the NL with 12 hit batters. ... Reds C Devin Mesoraco was reinstated from the suspended list and sent to Triple-A Louisville. ... Frazier has an eight-game hitting streak. ... The Phillies optioned RHP Michael Schwimer to the minors to make room for LHP Jeremy Horst , who returned from paternity leave. ... The Phillies extended their deal with Class-A Lakewood of the South Atlantic League through 2014. ... The Phillies open a three-game series with the NL East-leading Washington Nationals on Friday night. Kyle Kendrick (6-9) pitches the opener. ... The Reds return home to open a three-game set against St. Louis. Mat Latos (10-3) starts Friday.
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Cincinnati Reds