CINCINNATI (AP) — Juan Uribe drove in four runs with two singles, providing the Giants' final lead in a back-and-forth game, and San Francisco's balky bullpen held on for a 6-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday night.
Uribe had a two-run single in the third and another in the seventh, when the Giants rallied against reliever Daniel Ray Herrera (0-3) for their ninth win in their last 13 games.
Jay Bruce had three hits off left-hander Barry Zito, including a solo homer. Sergio Romo (2-3) got the victory in relief. Brian Wilson recovered from a blown save in his last outing, pitching a perfect ninth for his 15th save in 17 chances.
The Giants' bullpen has been a mess on the road this season, putting up a combined 4.96 ERA. It had to survive one of the majors' most hitter-friendly ballparks to keep San Francisco's on its winning surge.
Zito, winless since May 16, couldn't hold an early 4-1 lead that was set up by his rare two-RBI hit.
The pitcher had only five career RBIs — none this season — when he came to bat against Johnny Cueto in the second with two outs. A wild pitch left both runners in scoring position, and Zito lined a fastball off the middle of the bat for an opposite-field single and a 2-0 lead.
Ahead 4-3 in the bottom of the sixth inning, Zito retired the first two batters before loading the bases on a single and two walks. Pinch-hitter Miguel Cairo singled through the hole at shortstop for a 5-4 Cincinnati lead, ending Zito's outing.
Cueto gave up four runs and 10 hits in six innings, but left with the lead and a chance to extend a five-game winning streak that is the best of his career. Instead, the Giants rallied against the bullpen. Herrera gave up singles by Freddy Sanchez and Pablo Sandoval, who advanced on a groundout. Uribe then singled off Enerio Del Rosario for a 6-5 lead and his team-high 37th RBI.
Giants manager Bruce Bochy tweaked his lineup, giving struggling catcher Bengie Molina a day off. Bochy revealed before the game that Molina got an injection for his sore left elbow last week.
Catcher Buster Posey, rated the Giants' top prospect, made his first start behind the plate this season. Posey played first base this season, and caught four games last year.
The move worked. Posey had two singles.
NOTES: A man wearing a Mike Krukow Giants jersey and waving a "Go Buster" sign dived over a row of seats to get a foul ball hit by Posey in the second inning. ... Sanchez extended his hitting streak to 11 games. He's 20 for 40 during the streak. ... Giants INF Emmanuel Burriss (left foot fracture) will begin a rehabilitation stint at Class-A San Jose on Tuesday. ... The Reds took C Yasmani Grandal from Miami with the 12th overall pick in the draft. It's the second time in four years they've taken a catcher in the first round. The Giants took OF Gary Brown from Cal State Fullerton with the 24th overall pick.
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