" For seven innings, the Reds sputtered on offense. But they were secure in the fact that they were one swing away from tying it up.

That hope quickly evaporated when bullpen gave it up for the third straight game. Nick Masset allowed a pair of runs in the eighth, virtually sealing a 3-0 loss to the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night before 13,011 at Great American Ball Park.

The way right-hander Matt Cain was pitching for the Giants, the Reds didn't have a lot of margin for error.

The Reds used four relievers Tuesday night. Three of them allowed two baserunners and only got two outs.

The other was Mr. Reliable, Arthur Rhodes, who extended his scoreless-inning streak to 23 1/3 innings.

"We've got to find some complements for Arthur," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "We can't kill Arthur."

The bullpen answer may lie with Tuesday's starter. Sam LeCure went six innings and allowed one run on five hits. He walked four and struck out three.

"We couldn't ask for anything more than he's done," Baker said. "He's thrown the ball well. He's thrown strikes. He's gotten ahead of the hitters for the most part."

While LeCure was dealing with the Giants, Homer Bailey was struggling against Syracuse in a Triple-A rehab start. Bailey pitched pitched 4 1/3 innings and allowed five runs on five hits.

LeCure replaced Bailey in the rotation when Bailey went on the disabled list with shoulder tightness.

The next time the starting spot comes up is Sunday. LeCure is 1-2 with a 3.12 ERA after three starts. The losses are Cain and Chris Carpenter.

LeCure prefer to stay in the rotation.

"Obviously," he said. "But regardless of what happens, the goal is to put wins on the board. If they ask to take on another role up here, I'd be willing to do that. If they decide they want me to go down to minor leagues and continue to work on things, that's up to them. I understand that's the reality of it." "