(Sports Network) - A pair of rookies square off on the mound today when the Cincinnati Reds visit Nationals Park for the third and final game of a three- game weekend series with the host Washington Nationals.

For the Reds, right-hander Johnny Cueto faces the Nationals for the second time in exactly a month, and will hope to repeat the performance from July 3 - when he allowed seven hits and three runs in seven innings of a 5-3 win at Cincinnati.

Cueto is winless in four starts since, however, dropping two decisions while being touched for 26 hits and 18 earned runs in 24 innings.

He's a dismal 2-7 in 10 road starts in 2008 with a 5.70 earned run average in 53 2/3 innings.

Lanky Washington right-hander Collin Balester faces the Reds for the second time in his sixth major-league start.

He dropped a 6-5 verdict to Cincinnati on July 6 in Ohio, allowing four hits and five runs in 5 2/3 innings.

The 6-foot-5, 194-pounder had beaten Florida five days before falling to the Reds and has not won since, allowing a combined 23 hits and nine earned runs in two losses and a no-decision in his last three outings.

He is 0-2 at home with a 5.06 ERA in 10 2/3 innings.

On Saturday, pinch hitters Pete Orr and Ronnie Belliard each drove in a pair of runs as Washington rallied to outlast Cincinnati, 10-6.

Austin Kearns finished 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored for the Nats. Lastings Milledge homered and Jesus Flores, Kory Casto and Elijah Dukes also drove in a run apiece.

Charlie Manning (1-2) got the win by hurling a scoreless seventh inning. Starter Jason Bergmann went six innings giving up six runs -- five earned -- on six hits and three walks while striking out two.

Joey Votto knocked in three runs and Jay Bruce hit a two-run homer for the Reds, who have lost seven of eight.

Mike Lincoln (1-3) pitched just one-third of an inning, but allowed four runs on three hits and a walk to earn the loss. Josh Fogg allowed three runs in his 5 1/3 inning start by scattering six hits and three walks while striking out five.

Cincinnati has won four of its six matchups with the Nationals this season.