By Jeremy Kahn

AP photo: San Francisco pitcher Jeff Samardjiza pitches against the Cincinnati Reds in the first inning Tuesday

Jeff Samardzija in his first season with the San Francisco Giants, and already the right-hander accomplished a first.

Samardzija pitched eight strong innings, as he won his third straight start and the Giants defeated the Cincinnati Reds 3-1 at Great American Ballpark.

It is the first time in Samardzija’s career that he won three consecutive starts, as he won for the first time in his last 10 starts against the Reds.

Samardzija allowed only one run, as he gave up a solo home run to former Giants utility player Adam Duval, one of only three hits allowed by Samardzija.

The Giants scored two runs in the top of the eighth inning against the Reds bullpen, marking the 21st consecutive game that the Reds bullpen allowed a run, passing the 2013 Colorado Rockies for the longest streak in major league history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Kelby Tomlinson drove in the eventual winning run, as he singled off of Caleb Cotham and then Gregor Blanco drove in the final run of the inning with a RBI single.

After Javier Lopez hit the only batter he faced, and was then replaced by Santiago Casilla, who got Brandon Phillips to ground into a double play and then Jay Bruce grounded out to Tomlinson to end the game.