• The series: Cincinnati (48-47, second place NL Central) vs. Arizona (55-41, first place NL West).

        • Where: Cinergy Field.

        • When: 7:35p.m. today; 1:25p.m. Saturday; 1:15p.m. Sunday.

        • Radio: WLW-AM (700).

        • TV: Fox Sports Net, today and Sunday; Channel 19, Saturday.

        • The arms: Today — Steve Parris (5-12, 5.54 ERA) vs. Mike Morgan (4-2, 4.16) or Omar Daal (2-10, 7.31);

        Saturday — Larry Luebbers (0-1, 4.05) vs. Geraldo Guzman (2-0, 0.56);

        Sunday — Elmer Dessens (3-0, 4.99) vs. Brian Anderson (8-3, 3.89).

        The Diamondbacks led the NL with a 4.14 team ERA entering Thursday. But the Reds will miss both Randy Johnson (15-2) and Brian Anderson (8-3).

        • The bats: Entering Thursday, Arizona ranked eighth in the league in batting average (.265) but third in pinch hitting (also .265).

        3B Matt Williams is back from a foot injury (.281, 3 HR, 6 RBI). CF Steve Finley continues his All-Star season (.300, 26 HR, 74 RBI). Rookie 1B Orlando Cabrera is hitting .435 with 2 HR in 23 at-bats and is also back from the DL. OF Luis Gonzalez is having another fine season at .309 with 18 HR, 56 RBI.

        • The rest: Cincinnati captured three of four games at Arizona between June 30-July 3.

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