San Francisco @ Cincinnati preview
Great American Ball Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 1, 2013 ) San Francisco 1, Cincinnati 8
Even Mother Nature had no mercy on the San Francisco Giants during their road trip, as heavy rain prevented the club from attempting a late comeback Monday in the opener of their four-game series against the Cincinnati Reds. The clubs continue the set Tuesday, with San Francisco looking to improve upon its 1-6 record on the 10-game trek. The Giants registered only two hits in the series opener, with rookie starter Mike Kickham hitting a double and Brandon Belt swatting a solo homer before the game was called after six innings.
The 8-1 loss was the Giants' eighth in nine road contests and ninth in 11 overall games. Todd Frazier was the hitting star for Cincinnati, delivering an RBI single in the second inning before belting a three-run shot in the third. The Reds, who returned home after a 2-6 road trip, broke out offensively as they matched their run total of their previous four games combined.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, CSN Bay Area (San Francisco), FSN Ohio (Cincinnati), MLB Network
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Tim Lincecum (4-8, 4.64 ERA) vs. Reds RH Homer Bailey (4-6, 3.88)
Lincecum has lost six of his last seven decisions, including a setback against the Dodgers on Wednesday at Los Angeles in which he yielded four runs and 10 hits over 5 1/3 innings. The 29-year-old, two-time Cy Young Award winner went 0-2 in his previous three starts despite allowing three earned runs or fewer in each outing. Lincecum is 1-5 in eight road starts this season and has struggled mightily against Cincinnati in his career, going 0-1 with a 7.41 ERA in three meetings.
Bailey also has had difficulty winning of late, going 1-3 over his last six outings. The 27-year-old took the loss at Oakland on Wednesday, when he surrendered four runs in six frames against the Athletics. Bailey won his only career decision against San Francisco but has posted a 5.59 ERA in five starts vs. the Giants.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Reds are the only National League team Lincecum has yet to defeat.
2. San Francisco has scored fewer than three runs in eight of its last 11 games.
3. Cincinnati has been shut out in four of Bailey's 16 starts this season, including two of his last three.
PREDICTION: Giants 4, Reds 3