San Diego @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 12, 2011 ) San Diego 3, Cincinnati 5

THE STORY: The Cincinnati Reds avoided losing more ground in the National League Central thanks to Jay Bruce’s dramatic homer and take a three-game winning streak into Saturday’s contest against the visiting San Diego Padres. Bruce hit a three-run homer with two outs in the eighth inning Friday to turn a one-run deficit into a 5-3 victory. The Reds remain 10 games behind the first-place Milwaukee Brewers. The swift turn of events kept San Diego from winning its third straight game. It was only the second time the Padres have lost in their last seven games in Cincinnati.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Channel 4 (San Diego), FS Ohio (Cincinnati).

PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Tim Stauffer (7-8, 3.06 ERA) vs. Reds RH Homer Bailey (6-5, 4.72).

Stauffer gave up three homers in his last outing against the New York Mets after allowing only one over his previous seven starts. He wasn’t part of the decision as he gave up four runs and six hits in seven innings. Stauffer is 2-1 with a 2.18 ERA in five career appearances (three starts) against Cincinnati. In his lone start against the Reds this season, Stauffer up two runs and six hits in 4 1/3 innings. Joey Votto is 3-for-7 against Stauffer. Bailey has won three of his last four decisions. He was fortunate to get a no-decision in his last outing when he gave up five runs and six hits in three innings against Colorado. The outing was Bailey’s shortest of the season. Bailey is 2-0 with a 4.05 ERA in four career starts against San Diego. He hasn’t faced the Padres this season.

ABOUT THE REDS (58-61): Bruce’s homer was his 24th of the season. It was his third in five games after going homerless in 22 straight contests. Bruce had two hits Friday for the fourth time in five games. He is 8-for-18 with 10 RBIs during the stretch. Veteran utilityman Miguel Cairo recorded his 1,000th career hit. Votto has only three RBIs in 11 games in August. Francisco Cordero converted his sixth straight save opportunity and has 23 overall. Second baseman Brandon Phillips (elbow) was out of the lineup, but was used as a pinch-runner. Shortstop Zack Cozart underwent season-ending elbow surgery on his non-throwing arm.

ABOUT THE PADRES (53-67): Just as it appeared the San Diego bullpen had righted the ship following a pair of collapses earlier in the month, the normally reliable Josh Spence surrendered a three-run homer to Bruce. Spence hadn’t allowed a run in his previous 15 appearances. Catcher Nick Hundley (elbow) went 3-for-3 with a home run in his return from the disabled list. Orlando Hudson was back in the lineup after missing two games with a hamstring injury. Hudson had two hits. Jesus Guzman was hitless in four at-bats to end his 12-game hitting streak.

FINAL PITCH: San Diego starter Aaron Harang was honored prior to Friday’s game because of his charity work while pitching for the Reds from 2003-10. “It’s special to be able to come back and be recognized like this,” Harang said. “The way the game is now, guys don’t spend a lot of time in one city.”