Cincinnati @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 25, 2016 ) Cincinnati 7, San Francisco 5

The San Francisco Giants continue to stagger out of the All-Star break while the visiting Cincinnati Reds are playing solid baseball. Cincinnati attempts to defeat the Giants for the second straight night on Tuesday after opening a six-game road trip with a 7-5 victory that represented San Francisco's eighth loss in nine games.

The Reds are 7-3 since the All-Star break and have scored 45 runs over their past seven games. All-Star right fielder Jay Bruce had two homers and four RBIs in Monday's victory and is 6-for-12 with four homers and 11 RBIs over the last three games. Giants All-Star first baseman Brandon Belt went 3-for-4 with a homer on Monday after being 2-for-33 since play resumed after the break. San Francisco's slump has diminished its lead in the National League West to 2 1/2 games over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FSN Ohio (Cincinnati), CSN Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds LH Cody Reed (0-4, 6.75 ERA) vs. Giants RH Matt Cain (1-6, 5.88)

Reed is winless in six major-league starts but is coming off his best performance. He didn't allow an earned run in six innings against Atlanta on July 19 when he gave up five hits and two unearned runs in a no-decision. Reed has served up nine homers in just 30 1/3 innings and opposing hitters are batting .311 against him.

Cain returned from a hamstring injury and was shelled for five runs and six hits in 2 1/3 innings in a loss to Boston. He served up three homers in the defeat and has allowed 11 in 59 2/3 innings this season. Cain is 4-5 with a 3.21 ERA in 11 career starts against the Reds and has struggled to retire the red-hot Bruce (8-for-16).

WALK-OFFS

1. Giants CF Denard Span had two hits in the opener after being 1-for-11 over the previous two games.

2. Cincinnati All-Star LF Adam Duvall, who has 23 home runs, has failed to homer in his past 10 contests.

3. San Francisco 2B Joe Panik (concussion) is on a rehab stint at Triple-A Sacramento and could rejoin the major-league club later this week.

PREDICTION: Reds 6, Giants 4