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Reds-Giants Preview

Aug 25, 2010 - 6:33 AM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Cincinnati (72-54) at San Francisco (71-56), 3:45 p.m. EDT

With a rare offensive outburst to begin their homestand, the San Francisco Giants have quickly created a reason for optimism as they chase their first postseason berth since 2003.

They also may have given the Cincinnati Reds cause for concern.

The first-place Reds can still salvage a 6-3 road trip with a victory Wednesday afternoon, but the Giants' resurgent bats will be looking to complete an emphatic three-game sweep.

San Francisco (71-56) had lost five of seven before arriving home Monday, with its offense totaling one run in the final two games over the weekend at St. Louis.

But a relentless Giants lineup has racked up 27 runs and 35 hits in the first two games of this series, setting a season high in runs and pulling into a virtual tie with Philadelphia atop the wild-card race with Tuesday night's 16-5 victory.

The Giants, who've scored 11 or more runs in consecutive home games for the first time since Sept. 2-3, 1973, have a chance to total at least 30 runs in a three-game series for just the seventh time in the last 50 years.

"It's true, man," San Francisco's Aubrey Huff said. "Hitting's contagious."

Both in the midst of disappointing seasons, Pablo Sandoval and Freddy Sanchez have posted the most encouraging performances against Cincinnati.

Sanchez is 8 for 9 in the series, raising his average from .261 to .278, while Sandoval - nicknamed the Kung Fu Panda - has gone 6 for 10 with seven RBIs. Sandoval's home run Tuesday was his fifth in 12 games after a 47-game homerless drought.

"Panda's back," teammate Andres Torres said. "That's the Pablo, the Panda, I know."

The Reds (72-54) have done little to stop San Francisco's sluggers, and they've allowed a total of 37 runs while losing three of four after winning their previous seven games - including four in a row to begin this trip.

But Cincinnati still holds a 2 1/2-game lead over the Cardinals in the NL Central, and the club has reason to believe Homer Bailey (3-2, 4.52 ERA) can steady its staff.

After spending nearly three months on the disabled list with a shoulder problem, Bailey has returned with back-to-back victories, allowing a total of one run in 13 innings while beating Florida and the Dodgers.

"We left him down in the minors (on his rehab stint) a little bit longer than he wanted us to and we wanted to," manager Dusty Baker said. "But we wanted him to be ready big-time when he got back here."

Rookie Madison Bumgarner (5-4, 3.20) has proven he's ready to be a valuable member of the Giants' rotation, going 1-0 with a 2.57 ERA in his last two outings.

The left-hander pitched into the eighth inning of a 6-3 victory over St. Louis on Friday night, and his velocity has improved since he toned down the intensity of his throwing sessions between starts.

"My arm's starting to feel better and better each time out," Bumgarner said. "It's helped me feel better each time out, the command's been there and I haven't been tired."

Bumgarner is still seeking his first career home win, having gone 0-2 with a 4.06 ERA in five previous home starts.

The Giants are looking to sweep Cincinnati for the first time since May 3-5, 2002.