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Reds hope to build off offensive explosion against Giants

Aug 30, 2008 - 10:16 AM San Francisco (59-75) at Cincinnati (58-76), 7:10 pm EDT

CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- The San Francisco Giants had won eight of their last 11 games entering play on Friday, but looked like the cellar-dweller they've been all season against another lowly National League squad instead.

Hampered by a league-worst 13-26 since the All-Star break, the Cincinnati Reds hope to build on the recent offensive explosion as they continue their three-game set against the Giants on Saturday.

Edwin Encarnacion drove in five runs and Chris Dickerson collected three hits and four RBI as the Reds won the opener, 11-7.

Kevin Correia (3-7, 5.11 ERA) will take the mound for the Giants with hopes of winning his second straight outing.

Wins have been hard to come by for the righthander, who won for the second time since April 10 in his last start by tossing six solid innings, allowing three runs and seven hits against the San Diego Padres.

The Reds will counter with rookie Ramon Ramirez, who was recalled from the minors on Friday.

The 25-year-old Ramirez split the season at Class AA Chattanooga and Class AAA Louisville. He went 2-3 with a 4.70 ERA in nine starts at Chattanooga before being promoted to Louisville on May 25. With the Bats, he posted a 4-5 record with a 3.08 in 15 starts, including a 1.38 ERA in his last five outings.

The native of Venezuela replaces rookie righthander Johnny Cueto, who will miss his scheduled start with a strained right elbow. Cueto left Sunday's 4-3 loss against the Colorado Rockies after three innings.

Cueto was examined by Cincinnati team physician Dr. Timothy Kremchek on Monday and diagnosed with a posterior strain of the elbow.