Los Angeles righthander Jose Lima will aim to stay unbeaten since June 25 this evening, when he heads to the hill for the Dodgers in the first of a three-game set against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park.

Lima is 4-0 over his last seven starts, including a victory against Pittsburgh last Wednesday. The outspoken twirler limited the Pirates to just six hits and a run over seven innings, while fanning two and not walking anyone. Lima has allowed more than four runs in just two of 27 appearances, including 15 starts, this season.

Lima made a relief appearance against Cincinnati on May 16, tossing a scoreless frame. In his career, Lima has tallied just a 1-6 record with a 6.47 ERA versus the Reds.

Cincinnati will have 26-year-old righthander Aaron Harang on the mound tonight. Harang has won three of his last four decisions, including a victory over San Francisco last Thursday. In that game, Harang gave up four hits and a run over seven innings while fanning four and walking one.

Harang made his career debut against Los Angeles on May 16, allowing just six hits and two runs over 6 2/3 innings of a win.

The Dodgers remain atop the NL West by 6 1/2 games despite losing two of three to Philadelphia over the weekend at Dodger Stadium. Los Angeles has still won six of its last nine games overall. On Sunday, the Dodgers dropped a 4-1 decision to the Phillies.

Shawn Green drove in the sole run for the Dodgers, who fell for just the second time in seven games.

Brad Penny (9-9) made his second start with Los Angeles, but was taken out due to a strain in his right biceps after just two-thirds of an inning. Giovanni Carrara tossed 4 1/3 scoreless innings of relief.

Carrara's 4 1/3-inning outing was his longest in relief since he pitched five innings May 7, 2002 against Atlanta and his longest of any kind since a five- inning start Sept. 25, 2002 against Colorado.

The Reds avoided a three-game sweep at Coors Field with Sunday's 14-7 loss to the Rockies. Wily Mo Pena belted a solo home run and drove in a career-high five runs to lead the Reds.

Pena ended 3-for-4 with two runs scored before leaving the contest in the seventh inning with cramps and dehydration. He was replaced by Jacob Cruz, who ended 1-for-1 with a run scored.

Felipe Lopez, Sean Casey, D'Aneglo Jimenez and Jason LaRue each collected two RBI for the Reds, who snapped a two-game losing streak.

Corey Lidle (7-10) allowed three runs on nine hits in six innings to record the win. He fanned six with two walks. Lidle was traded to Philadelphia Monday for three minor leaguers. Replacing Lidle in the rotation will be Josh Hancock.

The Reds swept a three-game set between these teams at Dodger Stadium in mid- May. Cincinnati is 13-8 against Los Angeles since the start of the 2001 campaign.