• Where: Cinergy Field.

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

        • Radio: WLW-AM (700).

        • TV: Fox Sports Net tonight; Channels 19, 45 Saturday.

        • The bats: Brian Giles is having another huge year. He's hitting .313 with 28 home runs and 97 RBI. Kevin Young is also having a productive year (17 HRs, 72 RBI). Jason Kendall is hitting .320. The Pirates are 12th in the NL in home runs and runs and 13th in on-base percentage.

        • The arms: Today — RHP Scott Williamson (5-7, 3.34) vs. RHP Todd Ritchie (5-6, 4.73);

        Saturday — RHP Steve Parris (6-14, 4.93) vs. LHP Jimmy Anderson (4-5, 4.51);

        Sunday — Elmer Dessens (5-3, 4.70) vs. RHP Jose Silva (7-7, 4.85).

        The Reds will miss Kris Benson, the ace of the Pirates. Benson is 8-10 with a 3.57 ERA. Scott Sauerbeck, a Northwest High and Miami University product, is having another fine year. He is 5-1 with a 3.59 ERA as the Bucs' left-handed setup man. The Pirates have four pitchers on the disabled list. Francisco Cordova and Jason Schmidt are scheduled to have season-ending surgery.

        • The rest: The Pirates enter the series on a four-game losing streak. The Pirates, at 19-39, are the worst road team in the major leagues.

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