The Cincinnati Reds will try to wake up their slumbering offense on Monday when they begin a three-game series with the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.
The Reds lost three straight against the Los Angeles Dodgers over the weekend as they managed to score only two runs in that span. A solo home run in the bottom of the 11th inning by Dodgers rookie Yasiel Puig was the difference in Sunday's 1-0 game.
"Our guys are trying the best they can," manager Dusty Baker said. "I mean, everybody's talking about our on-base percentage, but you've got to have some guys drive them in. We were frustrated all day."
Still, Cincinnati (59-47) entered the day just five games back of the division-leading St. Louis Cardinals, who were also swept this weekend in Atlanta. The Reds are 4-4 so far on their 11-game road trip.
San Diego (48-58) is nine games off the pace in the NL West standings after finishing up a 6-4 road trip to secure their first winning trip of the season.
The Padres followed up Saturday's 12-3 victory at Arizona with a 1-0 series- clinching win on Sunday. Tyson Ross twirled eight shutout innings and fanned seven batters, while Carlos Quentin's RBI single in the first inning proved to be the game-winner.
The Padres hope to receive continued production from Quentin as they kick off an eight-game homestand against the Reds, New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles. The left fielder has driven in 20 runs in his last 19 games.
Padres right-hander Sean O'Sullivan makes his third start of the season. He is still seeking win No. 1 since being called up from Triple-A Tucson on July 12. O'Sullivan was 7-4 with a 3.88 ERA in the minors.
"I have been so good all year with balls in the strike zone," said O'Sullivan, who allowed two earned runs and walked three in 6 1/3 innings against Milwaukee his last time out. "(The walks have) been very uncharacteristic of me. I'm not a big strikeout guy. Putting guys on base is not part of my game."
Cincinnati will counter with Mike Leake, who is trying for his fourth straight win. Leake picked up his 10th victory of the season against San Francisco his last time out, as he gave up a career-high 12 hits but allowed only one run in six innings.
This marks the first meeting of the season between these two clubs. Cincinnati won six of eight against the Padres last season.
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