MLB PREVIEW: Cincinnati at San Francisco

After recording four consecutive shutouts for the first time in franchise history, the Giants turn to Matt Cain to extend the streak. San Francisco beat the Reds 5-0 on Monday in the opener of the four-game series, becoming the first team to throw four straight shutouts since the Baltimore Orioles finished the 1995 season with five straight. The Giants have pitched 36 scoreless innings and won six of their last seven games to move one game ahead of Los Angeles in the NL West.

Cincinnati leads the Pirates by one game in the NL Central after being held to one hit in the opener of its 11-day, 11-game road trip. Catcher Ryan Hanigan had the only hit for the Reds, who were shut out for just the second time this season and fell to 18-18 on the road. Hanigan has started 45 of the Reds’ 75 games at catcher, batting .285 with seven RBIs. Rookie Devin Mesoraco was expected to get more playing time but he has struggled at the plate with a .184 average in 101 at-bats after hitting .289 with 15 homers in Triple-A last year.

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