(Sports Network) - Early-season phenom Edinson Volquez tries to bounce back tonight from his first poor outing of the season, as the Cincinnati Reds host the Pittsburgh Pirates in the middle test of a three-game series at Great American Ball Park.

Volquez, who'll turn 25 on Thursday, was touched for six hits and five earned runs on Thursday at Toronto, dropping a 7-1 verdict to end a three-decision win streak. He had entered the game as the league leader in earned run average and strikeouts and was a win behind leader Brandon Webb.

However, he did not log any strikeouts against the Blue Jays and saw his ERA rise from 1.71 to 2.08.

Volquez faced the Pirates in his second start of the season and got a no- decision after allowing three hits in five innings of the Reds' 1-0 loss.

He is 5-0 in seven home starts with a 1.83 ERA.

Lefty Zach Duke starts for the Pirates and looks to end a three-start winless skid. He scored his last win on June 9 against Arizona and allowed five hits and two runs in six innings.

Since, however, he's allowed 22 hits and seven earned runs in 18 innings, losing a 10-0 decision to the New York Yankees and getting no-decisions against Baltimore and Toronto.

Duke is 2-2 in four lifetime starts against the Reds with a 4.57 ERA.

On Monday, Ken Griffey Jr. blasted a game-winning two-run homer in the ninth for his 603rd career home run, giving the Reds a dramatic come-from-behind 4-3 win over the Pirates.

Jerry Hairston Jr. homered and doubled in four at-bats while Brandon Phillips had two singles and a run scored for Cincinnati, which has won three straight. Francisco Cordero (3-1) was credited with the win after escaping a bases- loaded jam in the ninth.

Adam LaRoche was 3-for-3 with a two-run homer and a sac fly, accounting for all three Pittsburgh runs, as the Pirates dropped their second straight and fourth in their last five games.

Matt Capps (1-3) came on in the ninth, allowing a leadoff double to David Ross before Griffey connected on his 10th of the season, a line-shot to right- center that sent the Cincinnati crowd into a frenzy.

The Reds' Aaron Harang held his own through seven frames, surrendering three runs on seven hits and a walk while fanning eight in the no-decision.

The Bucs' Paul Maholm pitched well over seven innings, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks while recording five strikeouts.

Pittsburgh has won four of the seven encounters between these teams this season, but the Reds have won three of four tests at Great American Ball Park in the season set.