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Reds nip reeling Dodgers

Jun 15, 2011 - 6:15 AM Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Joey Votto's eighth-inning RBI single and Johnny Cueto's masterful performance lifted the Cincinnati Reds to a 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second of a three-game set.

With one down and runners on the corners, Votto ripped a Scott Elbert offering into right-center to score Miguel Cairo and break a 1-1 tie.

Over seven innings, Cueto (4-2) allowed just one unearned run on five hits and a walk while striking out five.

"[Cueto] was dealing," said Reds manager Dusty Baker. "He was electric. He definitely deserved to win tonight."

Drew Stubbs added an RBI single in the ninth, which proved essential, as the Dodgers cut their deficit to one in the home half on a James Loney RBI single.

Francisco Cordero settled down, however, to record his 14th save of the season.

Blake Hawksworth (1-2) suffered the loss, charged with Votto's go-ahead hit.

Los Angeles wasted a gem from Clayton Kershaw, who went seven innings, allowing one run on four hits and two walks, while striking out four.

"[Kershaw] was good," said Dodgers manager Don Mattingly. "He was solid. He really pitched well. [Cueto] had great stuff. We just weren't able to crack through him."

The Reds have taken the first two games of this series and have won six of their last nine, while the Dodgers have dropped five of seven.

Dee Gordon began the home first with a single and advanced to second on a Jamey Carroll walk. Andre Ethier followed with a grounder to short and, after getting the force at second, Phillips threw the ball wide of Votto, allowing Gordon to score.

Scott Rolen's two-out double in the fourth scored Stubbs, evening the game at one apiece.

Kershaw was lifted in favor of Hawksworth to start the eighth and Cairo showed his appreciation with a leadoff single. A Stubbs bunt moved Cairo to second before Phillips' single put runners on the corners. Elbert then relieved Hawksworth, only to surrender the decisive single to Votto.

Logan Ondrusek threw a scoreless eighth for the Reds and Ramon Hernandez and pinch-hitter Fred Lewis reached on a walk and a single, respectively, in the top of the ninth before Stubbs slapped a ball between first and second, scoring pinch-runner Mike Leake.

Matt Kemp drew a one-out walk in the home half and promptly stole second, then scored on Loney's single to left. Pinch-runner Trent Oeltjen stole second on pinch-hitter Casey Blake's strikeout before Rod Barajas popped out to end the game.

Game Notes

Cueto earned the first win of his career over the Dodgers, improving to 1-3 lifetime against Los Angeles...Monday's game marked the 100th career start for both Cueto and Kershaw...The Dodgers have gone 13-4 against the Reds at Dodger Stadium since 2006...Los Angeles went 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position.