SAN FRANCISCO -- After earning his first major-league win in nearly two years, Kevin Correia will spend the All-Star break in the minors.

His stay will only be temporary.

"He earned the promotion and he earned the right to come back," San Francisco manager Felipe Alou said after Correia and the Giants beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-2 Wednesday night. "We've always been excited about his arm and he looks like he's arrived now."

Correia will spend the next 10 days with Class-A San Jose because the Giants figure to retool their rotation following the break.

Pinch-hitter Lance Niekro's two-run triple broke a tie in the fifth and the Giants ended their four-game losing streak. They won at home for just the fourth time in 17 games.

"I don't know when the last time I got a hit against a right-hander," said Niekro, who platoons at first base with J.T. Snow. "It felt good to get in that situation and drive in a couple of runs."

Adam Dunn drove in both runs for the Reds, who lost for the eighth time in 11 games. Dunn has driven in 11 runs in his last 14 games.

Correia (1-0), recalled last Friday, last won in the majors on Sept. 21, 2003, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers. Making his 10th career start, Correia gave up two runs and five hits in five innings.

"I like the position I'm in," he said. "I'm getting more experience and I think I've just progressed in my knowledge of pitching. I'm trying to make them hit the ball instead of trying to strike everybody out."

Relievers LaTroy Hawkins, Scott Eyre, Scott Munter and Tyler Walker each pitched a scoreless inning.

Correia began the season as a closer at Triple-A Fresno. He made three starts with the Grizzlies before the Giants brought him up to start against San Diego last Friday. He allowed two runs in six innings against the Padres.

"With those starts, when my arm was ready I was back up," Correia said. "It seems like there are always some spots for you if you pitch well."

Correia was 3-1 in 10 games, including seven starts, with the Giants in 2003, but made just one appearance in 2004, spending most of the season with Fresno.

"I knew when I came up as a rookie it wasn't going to be that easy," Correia said. "I had some work to do."

Luke Hudson (1-4) failed to get out of the fifth inning for the third straight start and lost his fourth straight decision, a career worst. He allowed four runs and six hits.

"Just when things were turning around it bites me," Hudson said. "I felt like I was getting on a roll there and a couple of pitches get away and it all blew up."

Correia set down the first eight batters before Hudson's third career hit, a sharp single to left, sparked a two-out rally in the third. Felipe Lopez walked and both runners moved up on a passed ball ahead of Dunn's two-run, broken-bat single to center.

Hudson set down 10 of his first 11 hitters, then allowed five of the next six batters to reach base as the Giants took a 4-2 lead.

Deivi Cruz and Jason Ellison both singled to drive in a run, and Niekro's triple chased Hudson.

Mike Matheny added a run-scoring double in the sixth, and Alex Sanchez drove in two runs with an eighth-inning double.

Notes

• Giants 2B Ray Durham was a late scratch after straining his left wrist in batting practice.
• Giants OF Moises Alou was given the night off.
• Reds INF Anderson Machado was activated from the DL, replacing INF Edwin Encarnacion, who was optioned to Triple-A Louisville.
• RHP Jason Standridge became the 16th player to make his Reds debut this season.
• Reds OF Wily Mo Pena went 0-for-4 (three strikeouts and a double-play grounder), ending his 11-game hitting streak.
• INF Brian Dallimore was recalled from Triple-A Fresno to take Correia's roster spot.