The Reds four-game winning streak has morphed into a two-game losing streak with a 6-1 loss, as Mike Leake had trouble keeping the ball inside Great American Ball Park.
Michael Morse more than compensated for Todd Frazier's first inning home run by blasting one of his own with Pablo Sandoval on base in the second.
It was Morse's 13th and second in two days. It was Frazier's 12th and second in two days. Frazier's would have been as meaningful as Morse's but Hunter Pence made a diving catch of Billy Hamilton's bid for an extra-base hit.
Leake came into the game with a string of good starts. He had six quality starts in a row, giving up two runs or fewer in five of them. He had not allowed a home run in any of the prior six outings.
The Giants were one big pain in Leake's neck literally and figuratively.
"The truth be told, Leaker has had a stiff neck since the Sunday night game against the Cardinals," Bryan Price said. "It is muscular in nature. He can't completely turn to face the catcher. He's comfortable pitching but he's not 100 percent by any means."
Leake downplayed his neck.
"This was the first time I didn't execute all of my pitches but a lot had to do with the Giants," Leake said. "They are one of the toughest teams to face. They battle well. I'm not going to miss any starts. The neck is just a little tight. It will just go away."
That streak came crashing to a halt. Leake pitched a scoreless third inning but Brandon Crawford followed singles by Sandoval and Tyler Colvin with his seventh home run.
Leake left after a season low five innings, allowing a season-high eight hits and season-high five runs.
Meanwhile Giants' starter Madison Bumgarner had a rough three-batter sequence, then settled in.
After Hamilton's line out and Frazier's home run, Brandon Phillips stroked a clean single to left. After that only Frazier's third inning single cluttered the base paths. The other 23 batters made outs. Some batters hit the ball hard but Sandoval and Crawford showed their defensive side to complement their hitting sides. Sandoval had three singles. Crawford homered and walked.
"We seemed to have a really nice approach in the first inning," Price said. "I don't know if we lost the approach or Bumgarner got better. I've said it before. I really like our lineup. I like what we are capable of doing.that being said we have players who can produce more than they have."
The Reds needed work for Aroldis Chapman, who pitched the ninth striking out two of the three batters he faced. Chapman last pitched four days ago. J.J. Hoover pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Hoover has allowed one run over his last 14 2/3 innings.
Sean Marshall pitched an inning and a third and appeared to throw the ball better despite giving up the Giants' sixth run of the game. Marshall struck out three batters, the most since he struck out for in August 2012, nearly two years ago.
"He needs the opportunity to get out there," Price said of the pitcher that lowered his ERA to 9.00. "He is getting sharper with his breaking ball. We will need him the rest of the season."
George Kontos pitched the ninth for San Francisco, retiring the Reds in order.
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