Mike Leake sent to San Francisco Giants for two minor leaguers

— -- The San Francisco Giants have acquired right-handed starter  Mike Leake from the Cincinnati Reds for minor league prospects Adam Duvall and Keury Mella.

San Francisco, seeking one more solid starter, got a young pitcher in Leake who has been at his best in July. He has won his last four starts, allowing only two earned runs in 30 innings overall.

Leake threw eight innings of four-hit ball in a 4-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals Tuesday night in in his final start for the Reds. He's 9-5 with a 3.56 ERA in 21 starts.

Leake, a 27-year-old who can become a free agent after the season, said earlier this month that he used trade speculation as motivation.

"I don't think about being traded when I'm on the mound," Leake said. "I'm just trying to give these guys all I've got like I have for six years. It is more of a motivator.

"It [stinks] that we've had the season we did, but if I am traded, I'm eager to pitch for a winner."

Mella, who turns 22 on Sunday, pitched in this year's Futures Game, giving up two runs on two hits in one-third of an inning. He is 5-3 with a 3.31 ERA in 81 2/3 innings for Class-A San Jose. MLB.com's MLB Pipeline ranked Mella as the top prospect in the Giants' organization.

Duvall, a 26-year-old infielder, hit .279 with 26 homers and 79 RBIs at Triple-A Sacramento. Entering Thursday, he led the Pacific Coast League in home runs and total bases (218).

While playing for the Giants on June 26, 2014, Duvall hit his first major league home run -- off Leake.

The deal came four days after Cincinnati dealt ace Johnny Cueto to Kansas City for three minor league pitchers.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.