Giants get to Cincy bullpen (again).

Some streaks need to stay intact.

Tuesday was the 21st consecutive outing in which the Cincinnati bullpen failed to hold the opposition. In this case the two runs yielded were the difference in a 3-1 Giants win.

One bad pitch and you pick this lousy photo? (AP)

Speaking of streaks, it's a three-gamer of the winning kind for the G-Men (yes, they happen), guaranteeing San Franciso at least a .500 road trip -- no small feat considering the way it started in New York.

Jeff Samardzija and Buster Posey had big nights as the Giants ran thei mark to 15-13, two games over break even for the first time since April 14.

Samardzija (4-1) had his best day as a Giant, throwing eight innings of one-run ball and allowing just three hits while striking out nine. Former Giant Adam Duvall's solo homer in the fifth was his only blemish.

Until Cincy's bullpen misstep, it was a remarkably uneventful game.The Giants jumped on top early when Posey and Hunter Pence laced back-to back doubles in the first, pushing home a run that was equalized by Duvall's blast.

Busting a move homeward. Yeah, it took a month to get to that joke. Surprised? (Getty Images)

It was well-played and well pitched, with Samardzija and Reds starter John Lamb exchanging goose eggs and hair care tips.

And then the streak held up, although Cincy's Caleb Cotham nearly escaped when the Giants tried to run themselves out of the uprising. 

Pence drew a one-out walk and took third on Brandon Belt's drive into the corner. But Belt was thrown out trying to take second on the play -- not his first bit of questionable base running during the trip.

Brandon Crawford got four wide ones as the hosts decided to take their chances with Kelby Tomlinson. His full-swinging bunt plated Pence with the go-ahead run, and Gregor Blanco got the insurance rally with a bouncer to score Crawford.

Posey wielded the big bat with his second-career three-double night leading a 10-hit attack.

The Giants stayed a half-game ahead of LA, which posted a 10-5 win over the Rays. They'll hope to protect or extend that lead behind Jake Peavy (oh, God) in the series and trip finale on Wednesday. The much-traveled Dan Straily goes for the Reds.

San Francisco will still be shorthanded, although there's hope that thee light and the end of the proverbial tunnel isn't the oncoming Capitol Express.

Goerge Kontos is throwing simulated innings and Sergio Romo has resumed throwing from flat ground. More pressingly, Joe Panik and Angel Pagan could return for the upcoming homestand as lower body injuries mend.

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