Latos, 2 relievers combine on 1-hitter, Gonzalez and Banks homer as Padres beat Reds 7-1

Latos, HRs lead Padres past Reds 7-1

CINCINNATI — Rookie Mat Latos and two relievers combined on a one-hitter and San Diego beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-1 on Wednesday night, the Padres’ first consecutive wins in a month.

Latos (2-1) earned his second straight victory by allowing only Jerry Hairston Jr.’s homer in the fourth inning. Greg Burke and Mike Ekstrom both pitched one inning to complete the Padres’ second one-hitter of the season.

Adrian Gonzalez and Kyle Blanks homered off struggling Aaron Harang, and San Diego won two straight games for the first time since June 27-28. The Padres have lost 20 of 26 since July 1.

The Padres scored five times in the first off Harang (5-12), who leads the majors in losses. Gonzalez had a two-run shot — his third homer in three games — and Blanks hit a three-run homer.

Harang hasn’t won since May 25, going 0-8 in 12 starts. It’s the longest losing streak of his career and the longest by a Reds pitcher since Danny Graves lost eight straight decisions in 2003.

Like the Padres, the Reds have been in a midseason meltdown, losing 14 of their last 18. They have fallen 10 games under .500 (45-55) for the first time this season.

The 21-year-old Latos was called up from Double-A on July 18 and has made three starts, getting better each time. Challenging hitters with a fastball that topped out at 97 mph, the right-hander retired the first 10 batters before Hairston homered.

Latos, an 11th-round draft pick in 2006, walked one and struck out four. He retired 21 of the 23 batters he faced.

Harang went 6-17 last season, tying Houston’s Brandon Backe for most losses in the National League. He lost 33 pounds in the offseason, hoping to become more agile on the mound, but the dieting hasn’t translated into winning.

David Eckstein doubled with one out in the first — his only hit in two games since returning from the disabled list — and Gonzalez hit his 28th homer three pitches later. Gonzalez is two homers from becoming the first Padre to have three 30-homer seasons.

After Harang gave up a single and a walk, Blanks hit a ball into the upper deck in left field for his fourth homer in the last nine games.

NOTES: Padres manager Bud Black made a change to his starting rotation. Right-hander Josh Geer, who has given up an NL-leading 27 homers, moves to the bullpen. Reliever Edward Mujica will start in his place on Saturday against Milwaukee. It will be his first start in the majors. … Hits king Pete Rose attended his second straight game, sitting behind home plate. The crowd of 17,201 gave him a standing ovation when he was shown on the videoboard. … OF Wladimir Balentien, obtained from Seattle for reliever Robert Manuel, is expected to join the Reds before the start of a series Friday against Colorado.

(This version CORRECTS Padres’ last one-hitter.)