SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Madison Bumgarner's teammates had something special for him — a shower of beer and shaving cream, a celebration for his first career complete game and shutout.
He was also one pitch away from something even more memorable.
Bumgarner pitched a one-hitter, allowing only Ryan Hanigan's solid single leading off the sixth inning, as the Giants threw their franchise-record fourth straight shutout and beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-0 Thursday night.
"It's nice to get a complete-game shutout," Bumgarner said. "But four straight shutouts? That's awesome."
Bumgarner (10-4) struck out eight and walked two in winning his fifth straight decision. San Francisco moved alone into the NL West lead for the first time this year.
"By the numbers, it's the best game I've thrown," Bumgarner said. "But I've felt better and gotten beaten up pretty bad. That's the way this game goes."
The Giants became the 17th team to have four or more consecutive shutouts since 1918. The Baltimore Orioles did it most recently, with five straight in 1995.
"I've seen a lot of things in this game but I've never seen that before," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "It's been an impressive run. That's hard to do."
Angel Pagan, Pablo Sandoval, Gregor Blanco and Ryan Theriot each drove in a runs for the Giants, who have won four straight and six of seven to move into first place in the NL West for the first time since last Aug. 9. Melky Cabrera had two hits and reached base four times.
"It's exciting stuff," Sandoval said. "When they are throwing like that it's fun to play defense. You want to make the plays."
Johnny Cueto (9-4) had his four-game winning streak halted. He allowed two earned runs and six hits in six innings.
"You just hate for Johnny to lose like that," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "It was a situation where he just got outpitched. On most occasions you give up two or three runs, you got a pretty good chance to win the game."
Bumgarner faced two over the minimum as Giants pitchers extended their scoreless streak to a San Francisco-record 36 innings. He walked Drew Stubbs in the first, and then retired eight straight before walking him again in the fourth.
Stubbs was caught stealing, and Bumgarner retired 17 of the final 18 batters he faced.
"He's dealing," Hanigan said. "I'm glad I got one. He earned it. He's made adjustments, at least from last year to this year, in terms of how he's throwing."
Bumgarner had allowed 13 runs in his first 13 2-3 innings against the Reds, losing twice.
"I was just trying to keep us in there," Bumgarner said. "It worked out."
The Giants scored twice with two outs in the first. Cabrera walked and Buster Posey singled ahead of Pagan's RBI single. Posey came around to score on a throwing error by Jay Bruce.
Sandoval doubled home a run in the sixth and Blanco tripled home a run in the seventh. Theriot followed Blanco's hit with a single.
NOTES: Reds INF Brandon Phillips was a late scratch because of continuing effects from the blow to the head he received during Wednesday's 8-4 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. ... The Reds have lost three of their last five. ... Cueto had not allowed a run to the Giants in his previous 22 innings against them. ... The Giants' pitching staff has an NL-leading 10 shutouts. ... Bumgarner became the first Giants' pitcher to win five games in a calendar month since Tim Lincecum in September 2010. ... Reds INF Henry Rodriguez began a rehab assignment in the Arizona League on Thursday. ... Cabrera has five hits in his last 13 at bats over four games. ... Giants RHP Matt Cain (9-2, 2.27) goes for his ninth straight win on Friday night. ... Reds RHP Mike Leake (2-5, 4.46) has tossed seven quality starts over his last eight appearances. He's 2-0 with a 2.82 ERA in his last eight starts.
