(Sports Network) - Andy Pettitte tries to stretch his unbeaten streak to seven starts this afternoon when the New York Yankees complete their three-game interleague series with the Cincinnati Reds at Yankee Stadium.

Pettitte has been tremendous over his last two starts, winning both contests, while allowing just a run in 15 innings. He defeated the San Diego Padres on Tuesday, scattering five hits over seven scoreless innings to improve to 7-5, while lowering his earned run average to 4.29. He also matched a season-high with nine strikeouts.

Pettitte, who pitched three years in the NL Central, is 3-3 lifetime against the Reds with a 4.05 ERA in nine starts.

Cincinnati will counter with 22-year-old righty Johnny Cueto, who is 5-7 with a 5.19 ERA. Cueto lost his second consecutive start on Tuesday to the Los Angeles Dodgers, despite surrendering just two runs and five hits in seven innings.

Cueto has never faced the Yankees.

These two clubs have met just once in the regular season prior to this, as the Reds took two of three at home back on June 3-5, 2003.

Cincinnati will try to become the first NL team to sweep New York in three games at Yankee Stadium on Sunday. The Reds entered this series riding a five- game losing streak before posting a 4-2 triumph in Friday's series opener. Cincinnati, which is making its first appearance in the Bronx since it swept New York in the 1976 World Series, posted a 6-0 victory on Saturday.

Edwin Encarnacion's two-run single in the seventh inning broke up Dan Giese's shutout bid, while Corey Patterson hit a two-run homer for the Reds, who are 2-0 on a nine-game road trip and 14-24 as the guest this season.

Right-hander Daryl Thompson made his major league debut for Cincinnati, hurling five shutout innings for a no-decision. Bill Bray picked up the win with 1 1/3 shutout innings of relief.

New York has lost two in a row following a seven-game winning streak. In the shutout loss for the Yankees, starter Dan Giese made his first major league start and held the Reds scoreless until a throwing error on his part opened the door for a four-run seventh inning. Giese gave up four hits and three runs -- none earned -- in 6 2/3 innings, fanning five and walking none.

Derek Jeter and Jason Giambi each had two hits in a losing cause, as the Yankees fell to 3-2 on a six-game homestand and 20-14 at home this season.