Cincinnati, OH -- (Sports Network) - Chris Dickerson and Edwin Encarnacion combined to drive in nine runs to lead the Cincinnati Reds to an 11-7 victory over the San Francisco Giants in the first of three games at Great American Ball Park.

Dickerson finished the game 3-for-5 with a homer, three runs scored and four RBI while Encarnacion had a grand slam and five RBI, as the Reds improved to just 8-18 in August.

Edinson Volquez (16-5) allowed six runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings while striking out six and walking three to earn the win.

Barry Zito (8-16) was hammered for eight runs -- seven earned -- and seven hits in only 3 1/3 innings of work. He struck out two and walked two, and in two starts against Cincinnati this season the lefty has given up 16 runs -- 15 earned -- in 6 1/3 innings.

Eugenio Velez went 2-for-4 with three RBI and Emmanuel Burriss hit 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI in defeat, only the Giants' third in nine tries.

Cincinnati regained the lead in the home fourth on a couple defensive miscues. Jolbert Cabrera doubled, and Paul Bako hit a grounder to Travis Ishikawa, who gunned it over to third as Cabrera was running. However, nobody covered the base in the rundown, leaving men on the corners with nobody out.

Volquez tried to lay down a bunt, but Zito made an errant throw to first, leaving the bases loaded. Dickerson gave the Reds a 6-4 lead with a double to left, and later, with one out and the bases loaded, Joey Votto was hit by a pitch to score another run, ending Zito's outing.

Billy Sadler came on in relief, and walked Encarnacion to make it 8-4. He finally stopped the bleeding, though, getting Jay Bruce to ground into an inning-ending double play.

Dickerson made it a 10-4 game when he hit a two-run homer to right in the fifth.

San Francisco made it a 10-7 game in the sixth on Velez's RBI double and Rich Aurilia's two-run homer.

Cincinnati added another run in the seventh. Cabrera doubled and scored as Osiris Matos made a wild throw to first on a Bako ground ball.

The Reds broke the scoreless tie in the third. Dickerson hit a one-out single, and Jeff Keppinger singled him over to second. Dickerson stole third, and Votto worked a two-out walk to load the bases. Encarnacion followed by blasting the first pitch he saw into the left field seats for a grand slam.

San Francisco answered with four runs in the fourth. Pablo Sandoval singled to start the inning and Aaron Rowand singled two batters later. Ishikawa hit a single that deflected off Votto's glove at first into the outfield, allowing Sandoval to score and Rowand to go to third.

Burriss followed with a single when Brandon Phillips couldn't make the play on a ground ball, plating Rowand. Velez tied the game on a triple down the right field line, scoring both runners.

Game Notes:

Cincinnati leads the season series 3-1...The Giants have lost eight straight to NL Central opponents...Zito's 16 losses are a career-high...The six runs Volquez allowed are the most he has given up in a game all season.