Reds-Red Sox Game 2 Preview

May 2, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Mike Leake throws against the Milwaukee Brewers during the second inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

BOSTON- The Reds and Red Sox have barely seen each other over the years, with only two regular-season series played against each other in 2005 and ’08. After all the advanced preparation, this week’s series wraps up quickly with a second game tonight.

Boston will visit Cincinnati for another two-game series from Aug 12-13. The Red Sox last came to Great American Ball Park in 2008. The Reds were swept in three games the only other time they played at Fenway Park in the regular season.

Only a handful of active Reds players, including Brandon Phillips, Brayan Pena and Ryan Ludwick, had played a game at the historic ballpark before Tuesday night. Several players took a tour of Fenway early Tuesday afternoon while others took a chance to go inside the Green Monster in left field and take pictures.

“It’s a little intimate clubhouse, and the walkway from the clubhouse into the dugout is phenomenal,” Reds manager Bryan Price said. “It’s an old tunnel dug out from underneath. It’s terrific. Certainly, the history and the great games that have been played here, the big Green Monster, the fans, the changes made to the ballpark and also playing the World [Series] champs, it’s a great opportunity to come in here and get this experience.

“We’re used to going to Wrigley. We all love going to Wrigley Field, but we go there nine or 10 times a year. Now here we are at Fenway, which some people are doing for the first time or maybe the only time in their career, and it’s a great experience, a great environment.”

While the Reds and Red Sox aren’t entirely familiar with each other, starter Jake Peavy has a very good track record vs. Cincinnati from his National League years with the San Diego Padres.

Peavy, who is 1-1 with a 2.87 ERA this season, is 6-0 with a 2.14 ERA in 10 career starts against the Reds. That also includes two complete games. It’s his best ERA among teams he’s faced at least three times, and the second best ERA vs. Cincinnati among active pitchers.

Mike Leake will take the mound for the Reds, in his last start, Leake went eight solid innings, allowing only two runs, but his offense couldn’t give him any run support as the Reds fell to the Milwaukee Brewers 2-0 last Friday night at GABP. It will be Leake’s first start ever against the Red Sox.

NOTES: Rookie center fielder Billy Hamilton hasn’t started a game since he sprained two knuckles on his left hand on Thursday vs. the Brewers while making a diving catch. Hamilton was re-examined on Tuesday at Fenway Park, but the Reds are not putting him on the disabled list.

Hamilton was unable to swing a bat when he tried out his hand on Tuesday afternoon.

During his third rehab assignment outing, but first with Triple-A Louisville, Reds closer Aroldis Chapman made 33 pitches in only two-thirds of an inning. Chapman allowed five earned runs and four hits with one walk, one hit batter, one wild pitch and one strikeout.

First pitch is at 7:10pm, TV: FSN OHIO, RADIO: 700 WLW.