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CIN@CHC: Raley tosses six frames of three-run ball

Cincinnati manager Dusty Baker will be the first to admit that a day-night doubleheader is taxing on any team, particularly its pitching staff.

But that's exactly what Baker's Reds and the Cubs face as they prepare to play two on Saturday, heading toward the night game after the Reds claimed a 5-3 victory in Game 1.

The grind of two games in one day is especially grueling with a day game looming the next day, Baker says.

"It's a big deal, but fortunately for us, it's the only one we have right now," Baker said. "Some teams have a lot of them scheduled down the line. It puts pressure on your pitching staff and some guys will have to play two games. The worst part of that whole scenario is that we have a day game the next day after that. We'll probably go with more youth than veterans because they have a tendency to bounce back quicker."

In Game 1, Johnny Cueto continued his strong work in day games, extending his record to 11-0 under the sun with eight strong innings that kept the bullpen's innings down to one. Cueto, who had blanked the Cubs for eight innings just last Sunday, allowed a two-run homer in the first inning to Alfonso Soriano but nothing else the rest of the way.

Game 2 features left-hander Brooks Raley for the Cubs against right-hander Todd Redmond. The Reds are taking advantage of baseball's new rule that allows teams a 26th man on their roster for doubleheaders, recalling Redmond from Triple-A Louisville to start Game 2. The right-hander is 2-3 with a 3.41 ERA in five games with Louisville since Cincinnati acquired him from Atlanta in July, but Saturday will mark his first Major League action.

"It always helps when you know when you're going to do something and go pitch," Redmond said. "I will treat it like any other start."

Cubs: Castro working on long-term deal
Starlin Castro confirmed a CSNChicago.com report Friday that his agent, Paul Kinzer, is working with the team on reaching a long-term contract extension. Castro originally signed with the Cubs as an amateur free agent in 2006.

Castro enters Game 2 hitting .276 with 12 home runs and 58 RBIs this season. The 22-year-old is a year removed from leading the National League in hits with 207.

"I want to be here, I want to be with the team for a long time," Castro said. "I want to be on this team my whole career. I don't want to go nowhere. I want to finish my career here. That's why I tell my agent I want to be here. I want to help the team."

• Soriano notched his 1,000th career RBI with his two-run homer off Cueto in Game 1. He becomes the sixth player in baseball history to record 1,000 RBIs, 400 doubles, 350 home runs, and 250 stolen bases, joining Barry Bonds, Andre Dawson, Willie Mays, Alex Rodriguez and Gary Sheffield.

Soriano has driven in 12 runs over his last 13 games.

Reds: Votto yet to resume baseball activities
One week after undergoing a minor procedure to remove loose cartilage from his left knee, first baseman Joey Votto still hasn't resumed baseball activities. On the disabled list since July 17, the Reds have yet to announce when Votto could return.

But in the meantime, Cincinnati is 22-9 since Votto's injury, the best record in baseball over that span.

"I'll probably advance to baseball stuff at some point," Votto said. "I'm not sure when, because they haven't specifically told me yet. We're getting a lot of good stuff done in the pool."

Worth noting
• Chicago's loss in Game 1 extended its road losing streak to eight games, dating back to July 25.

• Redmond's start will snap Cincinnati's 120-game streak of using the same five starters all year.

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