Cincinnati @ San Diego preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 5, 2012 ) Cincinnati 1, San Diego 2

Break up the Padres? Among the league's worst teams for most of the season, San Diego has ripped off six consecutive victories, including a dramatic 2-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds in the series opener Thursday night. Logan Forsythe's pinch-hit homer in the eighth inning broke up a shutout and tied the score before the Padres pushed across the winning run in the ninth on Everth Cabrera's walk-off single with the bases loaded.

Cincinnati's offense has gone into a deep freeze on its West Coast road trip, managing only three runs and 16 hits during its three-game skid to drop two games behind Pittsburgh in the NL Central. The Reds wasted a sensational start from Mat Latos, who tossed seven scoreless innings in his third straight dominant outing. The bullpen was nearly untouchable earlier in the season, but three relievers combined to retire just three of nine batters while allowing two runs and five hits.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, FSOH (Cincinnati), FSSD (San Diego)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Bronson Arroyo (3-5, 4.06 ERA) vs. Padres RH Kip Wells (1-1, 1.50 ERA)

Arroyo has not received a decision in his last two starts despite allowing five runs in a combined 13 2/3 innings. That's been a trend for the 35-year-old Arroyo, who is 1-4 in his last 10 starts. He has not enjoyed much success against San Diego, posting a 4-7 record with a 4.56 ERA in 13 career starts while going winless against the Padres since July 2008.

Wells picked up his first win in nearly three years last time out, blanking Colorado on six hits over seven innings. The 35-year-old Wells was making his second start of the year. He came out of retirement in the spring and was signed by the Padres after being released by the Chicago White Sox. He is 2-10 lifetime vs. the Reds.

WALK-OFFS

1. Padres C Yasmani Grandal, acquired from the Reds in the offseason, has hit in five straight games and six of eight since he was recalled from the minors.

2. Reds lefty reliever Sean Marshall gave up his third homer of the season. He had allowed only four in 158 appearances over the previous two seasons with the Chicago Cubs.

3. Padres IF-OF Alexi Amarista extended his hitting streak to eight games.