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Dunn, Cueto help Reds snap skid, top Cubs

May 6, 2008 - 3:24 AM CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- Adam Dunn belted a two-run home run and rookie Johnny Cueto pitched six strong innings as the Cincinnati Reds snapped a five-game losing streak with a 5-3 triumph over the Chicago Cubs on Monday.

Jeff Keppinger had a two-run single to highlight a three-run first inning for the Reds.

"(The losing streak) had to end eventually," Dunn said. "We came out, and we could have had a big inning (in the first). That was our goal this series was to jump on them early, and we had an opportunity to do that."

Cincinnati manager Dusty Baker admitted that he breathed a sigh of relief after his team officially recorded the win.

"I was trying to be cool, but inside you're churning," Baker said. "David Ross said to me he was more nervous over there than in the ballgame, I said try to sit in my seat. That was a good win, it would have been a devastating loss."

Geovany Soto belted his sixth home run of the season and reached base four times for the Cubs, who lost for the eighth time in their last 11 contests.

Ken Griffey Jr.'s bid for his 598th career home run was thwarted by a leaping catch by center fielder Felix Pie in the fifth inning.

Rebounding from his worst start of his young career, Cueto (2-3) allowed three runs and six hits in six innings to pick up the victory.

The 22-year-old righthander had eight strikeouts - including five in the first two innings - and walked two in this one.

"(Cueto) had a very good command of his breaking ball, and it complemented his fastball," Baker said.

In his last start, the rookie was tagged for seven runs and eight hits over just 1 2/3 innings in the Reds' 7-2 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.

On Monday, two relievers bridged the gap to Francisco Cordero, who allowed two hits and walked two but was still able to earn his fifth save of the season - but not without some anxious moments.

Cordero loaded the bases in the ninth and bounced a pitch which escaped catcher Paul Bako. The catcher quickly caught up the ball and flipped it to a covering Cordero, who tagged Mike Fontenot at the plate.

"I thought the ball went farther than it did," Fontenot said. "I wanted to get home. It was a bad decision."

Ryan Dempster (4-1) allowed five runs - one earned - and four hits in six innings to take the loss. He struck out seven, walked one and retired 10 consecutive batters on Monday.