Cueto looks strong for Reds, beats Cubs

Johnny Cueto was in midseason form. His 2011 debut for the Cincinnati Reds showed that his arm was sound and his stuff was good.

Now the defending NL Central champs have their starting rotation intact. Three days ago, Homer Bailey came back from the disabled list. And Sunday, it was Cueto, who pitched into the seventh inning in a 2-0 victory over the host Chicago Cubs.

"That was a great outing by Cueto," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "Took him to his limit, I think. He was still throwing the ball well, but you have to remember that's his first outing."

Drew Stubbs hit his sixth homer, and Joey Votto went 0-for-4 as he had his season-opening string of reaching base stopped at 33 straight games, one shy of Dave Collins' modern club record set at the start of the 1981 season.

Braves 5, Phillies 2: Jair Jurrjens (4-0) pitched neatly into the seventh inning, and Freddie Freeman, Alex Gonzalez and Eric Hinske homered for visiting Atlanta.

Pirates 5, Astros 4: Ryan Doumit hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning as host Pittsburgh improved to .500 this late in a season for the first time in six years.

Cardinals 3, Brewers 1: Kyle McClellan (5-0) worked into the ninth inning and Colby Rasmus had a two-run double for host St. Louis.

Giants 3, Rockies 0: Ryan Vogelsong (2-0) and two relievers combined on a three-hitter for host San Francisco. Cody Ross homered and drove in all three runs.

Padres 4, D-backs 3: Jorge Cantu hit a three-run homer in the first and Aaron Harang (5-2) went seven solid innings for host San Diego. -- AP