Timberwolves 32-20 in the second quarter behind 1

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Jay Bruce hadnt driven in a run in more than a month. He finally got a notable RBI and kept Cincinnatis winning streak going. Bruce drove in a pair of runs and Devin Mesoraco hit a two-run homer Tuesday night, leading the Reds to a season-high fourth straight win, an 8-3 victory over the sloppy San Francisco Giants. Mesoraco hit his ninth homer off Tim Lincecum (4-5), who has beaten the Reds during the playoffs but never during the regular season. Bruce, who spent time on the disabled list following surgery for torn knee cartilage, knocked in his first run since April 25. The Reds biggest shortcoming has been their inability to drive in runners. With Bruce back, theyve got a chance to fix the problem. "It was nice seeing him do what he does," manager Bryan Price said. "It was really good to see him get a couple of hits." Homer Bailey (6-3) went six innings in his first game against the Giants since his no-hitter against them last July 2 at Great American Ball Park. The right-hander gave up three runs and five hits, including Hunter Pences homer, double and single. "We scored early," Bailey said. "They hit some balls and got some men on base, but I was able to limit the damage and I found a groove." The Giants have the majors best record at 37-21, but were undone by a season-high four errors. Lincecum had a throwing error, and catcher Hector Sanchez threw two balls into centre field on steal attempts. Part of it was Billy Hamiltons speed. The Reds leadoff hitter doubled and scored on Lincecums throwing error in the first inning. He also singled, stole a base and scored a run in the fifth. Lincecum acknowledged that he got a little flustered with him on base. "Its fun to be fast," Hamilton said. "Thats what speed does." The Reds have dominated the Giants during the regular season in recent years, winning nine of 11 since 2012. San Francisco got the best of Cincinnati when it mattered most, taking three of five in the 2012 division series and going on to win the World Series. Cincinnati won this one with a pair of big innings. The Reds scored four times in both the first and fifth innings, matching the most runs that the Giants have allowed in an inning this season. When Bailey threw his second no-hitter against the Giants last July, the opposing pitcher was Lincecum, who threw his own no-hitter 11 days later at San Diego. Lincecum had a rough time in the rematch, matching his career high by giving up eight runs in only 4 1-3 innings. Bruce doubled home a run in the first inning for his 500th career RBI, and Mesoraco homered for a 4-0 lead. Brandon Phillips doubled home two more runs in the fifth, and Bruce had an RBI single as the Reds pulled ahead 8-3. Bruce missed two weeks following knee surgery and was only 4 for 30 in his previous eight games back. Lincecum is 0-4 with a 9.79 ERA in six career starts against the Reds, the only NL team he hasnt beaten during the regular season. He won Game 4 in Cincinnati during the 2012 division series. It was the third time in his career that Lincecum gave up eight runs in a start. The previous time also was against Cincinnati last July 22. NOTES: Ryan Vogelsong (3-2) starts the second game against LHP Tony Cingrani (2-5), who is 0-3 with a 5.29 ERA in three starts since returning from the disabled list. ... The Giants have lost 11 of their last 12 regular-season games at Great American. ... Pablo Sandoval went 0 for 3 with a sacrifice fly, ending his 12-game hitting streak. ... Bruce is the fifth-youngest Reds player to have 500 RBIs, trailing Johnny Bench, Frank Robinson, Vada Pinson and Adam Dunn. ... Joey Votto was cleared to hit and take infield practice with the team. If that goes well, hell start a minor league rehab assignment. 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The Bobcats, currently the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference, came in averaging 103.9 points and shooting 47 per cent in their last seven homes games. They shot 48 per cent against the Timberwolves. Al Jefferson had 25 points and 16 rebounds to set a single-season franchise record with his 20th 20-point, 10-rebound game of the season and the Bobcats held Kevin Love scoreless in the second half. "They brought me here to be a double-double guy, a 20-10 guy, and Im just living up to my contract," said Jefferson, who inked a three-year, $40.5 million deal this past off-season. Gary Neal, benched Wednesday for an "internal team matter," returned and provided a huge lift off the bench with 19 points on 6-of-10 shooting. He said his comfort level is improving since being acquired from the Milwaukee Bucks just before the NBA trade deadline. "Ive never been traded in the middle of the season before, so that has been tough," Neal said. "That is what I can bring to the team is scoring, but you also want to fit in. You dont want to come in with the second team and think that you can shoot all of the shots. It was a feeling-out process and so far I have done a good job." Kevin Martin had 19 points to lead Minnesota. Love had 18 points in the first half, but was 0 for 7 from the floor in the second half against Josh McRoberts and improving rookie Cody Zeller. It didnt help that Timberwolves centre Nikola Pekovic left late in the third quarter with a sore right ankle. He missed most of February with an ankle issue. "I was particularly tired and it was just a tough game from the start," Love said. "They were hitting a lot shots. They kept making shots and we didnt get any stops. ... I dont think I scored in the second half. It was a tough night for everybody." Said McRoberts: "(Love) is going to hit all seven of those shhots tomorrow even if he faces the same defence.dddddddddddd When youre that good, as a defence you just try to make it tough for him to get to a spot he wants to get to." The Bobcats entered the night with the seventh-best record in the Eastern Conference and three games below .500. Charlotte led by as many as 18 in the second half and the Timberwolves were never able to get the lead under double-digits after the break. Jefferson, the only player in the Eastern Conference averaging more than 20 points and 10 rebounds per game this season, continued his torrid pace with his 25th 20-point game in the last 28 outings. The 6-foot-10 centre only had eight points in a 119-92 loss at Minnesota on Jan. 10. But he had 12 at the break and helped the Bobcats extend their lead to 18 in the third quarter with an old-fashioned three-point play on an up-and-under scoop shot that drew a foul. He was 12 of 26 from the field. The Timberwolves came in looking for their first four-game road win streak in five years, but instead fell back to .500 on the season and six games behind Dallas in the race for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Bobcats broke up a tie game by outscoring the Timberwolves 32-20 in the second quarter behind 16 first half points from Neal, who was 5 of 7 from the field with a pair of 3-pointers. Charlotte shot 54 per cent in the first half, including 5 of 8 from beyond the 3-point arc. "The start of the second quarter just killed us," Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman said. "They didnt miss many shots. I thought defence was our problem. Second half, it was an even game but we were too far down." The Bobcats (32-34) have won five of six and are trying to catch the Washington Wizards for sixth place in the East. The way things stand now, that would be the difference between playing the Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors in the first round of the playoffs. NOTES: Clifford said before the game he doesnt expect centre Brandon Haywood back this season. Haywood has been out all season with a stress fracture in his left foot that hasnt quite healed. He said the Bobcats will look to sign another centre soon. ... Michael Kidd-Gilchrist had 10 points and nine rebounds for the Bobcats. ... Zeller provided a boost off the bench for Charlotte with 10 points and eight rebounds. Charlottes bench outscored Minnesotas 47-32. ' ' '