June 10, 2011GIANTS (35-28) vs.CINCINNATI (33-31)
Coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area
(AP) -- The Cincinnati Reds made quick work of Ryan Vogelsong the last time they saw him start a game.
It may as well have been a lifetime ago for the San Francisco Giants' pitcher.
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Looking to continue a string of shutdown performances at AT&T Park, Vogelsong will take the ball as the Giants try to even their four-game series with the Reds on Friday night.
Vogelsong (4-1, 1.68 ERA), back in the big leagues for the first time since 2006 after struggling in the minors and Japan, is 2-1 with a 0.64 ERA over four starts in San Francisco this year. The right-hander allowed one run for the third straight game at home and four hits in eight innings of a 2-1 win over Colorado on Sunday.
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"To be on a team and be counted on to go out there and win games, it's awesome. It's a great feeling," Vogelsong told the Giants' official website.
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Having allowed one run or less in each of his last six appearances, Vogelsong isn't coming out of the rotation even after former AL Cy Young Award winner Barry Zito eventually returns from a foot injury.
"Voggy is not going anywhere. He's going to pitch every fifth day," manager Bruce Bochy said.
Now 33, Vogelsong hasn't started against the Reds since Sept. 24, 2004, with Pittsburgh. He faced just seven batters and was ripped for seven runs and four hits with three walks in a 14-8 loss.
Overall, Vogelsong is 2-3 with a 6.15 ERA in 11 games, including four starts, versus the Reds (33-31).
Coming off the worst outing of his brief career, Travis Wood (4-4, 5.72) hopes to bounce back for Cincinnati. The second-year left-hander surrendered eight runs and five walks - both career highs - in 4 2-3 innings of a 9-6 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday.
"When you only get to pitch with your fastball, it's pretty tough," catcher Ramon Hernandez told the Reds' official website. "You need all your pitches to get hitters out of balance, get him in front, get him jammed. It's pretty tough when you're breaking pitches don't work."
Wood lost his only career start in San Francisco, yielding seven runs in four innings as the Giants rolled 16-5 on Aug. 24.
The Reds are in search of their third straight win at AT&T Park, and fourth in five games overall. Johnny Cueto raised his record to 3-2 after he scattered four hits and struck out eight in seven innings of a 3-0 victory Thursday.
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"Johnny Cueto has been lights out this year," second baseman Brandon Phillips said. "I wish his record was better than what it was. We just haven't given him many runs lately."
Jonny Gomes had three hits and drove in a run for the Reds. Gomes, who is 7 for 11 in his last two road games, is hitting .210 - the first time he's been above .200 since April 25.
Miguel Tejada had two hits for San Francisco (35-28), which is hitting .190 over the last six games while being held to five hits or fewer four times.
The loss reduced the Giants' lead in the NL West over Arizona to one game.