MILWAUKEE — One of the reasons the Brewers opted to part ways with Scooter Gennett at the end of spring training last season was the perception that he couldn’t hit left-handers consistently enough to be an everyday second baseman.Since joining the Reds Kendall Graveman Jersey , though, Gennett has proven those critics wrong and especially this season. He came into his ninth-inning at-bat Tuesday night with a .291 average in 144 plate appearances against lefties this season, including four home runs.And just in case his former team needed another reminder, he hit his fifth home run off a left-hander this season with two out in the ninth inning to give the Reds their fourth victory in five games.Article continues below ...“I can’t hit lefties, right?” Gennett said afterward. “With (Eugenio Suarez) behind me, I look forward to those situations now. Before I was looking over my shoulder, seeing if they were going to take me out.”Gennett’s 19th homer of the season was only his second of the month and first since Aug .13. After earning his first career All-Star berth with a red-hot first half, Gennett had slumped through the first half of August and was batting .204 for the month before recording four consecutive multi-hit games coming into the series with Milwaukee.“I feel like the pitches I’m swinging at play a huge role,” Gennett said of his success this season. “I’m putting myself in better counts to get quality pitches to hit and drive. And also playing every day, facing lefties is something I didn’t really get to do over here. That can kind of mess you up a little bit when you get a couple days off and your timing can be affected a little bit.”Gennett and the Reds will try to notch consecutive series victories for the first time this month Wednesday http://www.athleticsfanproshop.com/authentic-jose-canseco-jersey , when right-hander Robert Stephenson (0-1, 7.94 ERA) takes on Brewers right-hander Freddy Peralta (5-4, 4.48).Stephenson has yet to face the Brewers this season but is 1-0 with a 4.63 ERA in four previous meetings (one start). He could take the mound with an early lead if the Reds continue the trend of getting to Peralta early.The rookie has a 9.00 ERA in the first inning this season after allowing 12 earned runs on 13 hits and 10 walks. To break out of that cycle, Peralta tried changing his routine before his last outing at St. Louis and hit the weight room before throwing his first pitch.“Just trying to find something that works,” Peralta said through translator Carlos Brizuela. “I’m starting to feel a lot more comfortable early on, but it’s something we have to work on.”Unfortunately, the change didn’t have the result he was hoping for as a two-run single by Marcell Ozuna got the Cardinals on their way to a 5-2 victory.“He recovered and gave us six good innings, but we have to get to the bottom of the first inning here,” Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said. “We did change some things up today. … Unfortunately, same result.”Peralta’s only previous outing against Cincinnati came July 1 when the Reds scored three runs on five hits over five innings at Great American Ballpark. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The potential final out bounced off Joe Panik’s glove http://www.athleticsfanproshop.com/authentic-jed-lowrie-jersey , and the San Francisco Giants couldn’t recover after that.Rougned Odor hit a tying two-run homer in the ninth inning, Robinson Chirinos drew a bases-loaded walk in the 10th and the Texas Rangers rallied from six runs down to beat San Francisco 7-6 on Friday night.The Rangers trailed 6-4 and were down to their last strike when Shin-Soo Choo reached on second baseman Panik’s fielding error. Odor homered off closer Will Smith in the next at-bat, sending a shot over the right field wall and into McCovey Cove.Odor’s 16th homer was his first splash hit and the second in Rangers history. Mitch Moreland had the other on June 9, 2012.Texas scored the go-ahead run off former Rangers reliever Sam Dyson (3-3). Chirinos drew a four-pitch walk that scored Jurickson Profar, who started the rally with a one-out single.“(Dyson) lost his command there, but it was lost earlier,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “We had the bases-loaded with one out in the eighth and couldn’t put the ball in play. Those things come back to hurt you. It’s a tough game to lose.”Cory Gearrin (1-0) pitched out of that eighth as part of two scoreless relief innings. He was a Giant when he collected his last win on July 1 against Arizona.San Francisco had a chance to extend a 6-4 lead in the eighth, but Gearrin escaped a based-loaded, one-out situation, striking out Brandon Belt and Evan Longoria.“Huge strikeout against Belt Tony Phillips Jersey ,” Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. “I think that was probably one of the biggest keys in the game.”Gearrin came over along with outfielder Austin Jackson in a trade with the Giants on July 8.“I felt good,” Gearrin said. “I’ve pitched in this stadium many times, so it wasn’t new to me being out there and being there in a situation with the bases loaded, it was fun. Those are the kind of games you want to be in.”Giants starter Derrick Rodriguez had another solid outing. The 26-year-old left-hander and son of Hall of Famer Ivan Rodriguez struck out four and gave up two runs, three hits and three walks.Jose Leclerc pitched a scoreless 10th inning for his seventh save.The Rangers trailed 6-0 going into the sixth, when Choo had a two-run single.Joey Gallo came up lame leaving the batter’s box after his broken bat single off reliever Mark Melancon scored Nomar Mazara with two outs in the eighth that made it 6-4. Gallo left the game for pinch-runner Carlos Tocci.He rolled his ankle and is day-to-day, Banister said.Gallo hit his 34th home run leading off the seventh on Giants reliever Reyes Moronta’s first pitch.OLD HANDSPudge Rodriguez was on hand to watch his son pitch, but he apparently didn’t come ready to contribute. A popup foul ball came right to Rodriguez behind home plate, but the 13-time Gold Glove Award winner let it fall through his hands. Derrick Rodriguez laughed when he realized pops had let one get away.TRAINER’S ROOMRangers: RHP Bartolo Colon (lower back strain) was placed on the disabled list retroactive to Tuesday. … INF Hanser Alberto was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock on Friday in a corresponding move.Giants: RHP Jeff Samardzija (right shoulder tightness), who has been on the DL since July 15 http://www.athleticsfanproshop.com/authentic-walt-weiss-jersey , experienced soreness in his shoulder pitching on a rehab assignment game with Double-A Richmond on Wednesday, manager Bruce Bochy said. The 33-year-old was scheduled to meet with team doctors Friday evening. “A little concerned to be honest, he’s got some soreness,” Bochy said. “He’s not real close.” . RHP Casey Kelly was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento after Thursday night’s game. The Giants activated Rodriguez in a corresponding move.UP NEXTLHP Martin Perez (0-2, 6.93 ERA) will pitch for Texas on Saturday. The 27-year-old is winless in eight starts going back to April 29. Giants rookie LHP Andrew Suarez (4-9, 4.68) is 0-3 with a 7.71 ERA through four starts in August. The 25-year-old is 0-2 with a 7.36 ERA in three interleague starts this season.